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Calcifications simulating sialolithiasis of the major salivary glands

¹ Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Barzilai Medical Center, Ashkelon, Israel; ² Ultrasound Unit, Barzilai Medical Center, Ashkelon, Israel

*Correspondence to: Dr Tal Bar, Chief Resident, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Barzilai Medical Center, Ashkelon, Israel; Email: tbar0{at}zahav.net.il

Received 10 July 2005; revised 30 January 2006; accepted 23 February 2006

Calcifications found in routine and normal radiographs of the oral and facial region may turn out to be an interesting diagnosis. Although most of the radiopacities may be sialoliths, other differential diagnoses must not be exempted, such as calcified lymph nodes, phleboliths and other vascular calcifications, tuberculosis of lymph nodes or of the salivary gland itself. Several cases are presented which simulated pathological calcifications of the orofacial region and were diagnosed primarily as sialoliths, but further examinations revealed other pathology. These cases together with several suggested diagnostic modalities are discussed in this paper.

Keywords: calcification; radiopaque lesion; sialolith; salivary gland; sialoendoscopy