Rigid endoscopy to aid the treatment of cervical mucocele in a dog

ABSTRACT

Background: Sialocele or salivary mucocele is the accumulation of saliva in the glandular connective tissue due to a leakage from damaged salivary duct, which is surrounded by granulation tissue. The mucocele can be classified according to its location (cervical, pharyngeal or sublingual, the latter being known as ranula). The treatment consists of salivary gland and duct excision. However, in some cases, the definition of which side is affected is a challenge for surgeons. Keeping this in view, the aim of the present study was to describe the use of rigid endoscopy to determine the affected gland in a dog with cervical mucocele.Case A five-year-old Dachshund, weighting 8.2 kg, was presenting progressive swelling in the ventral cervical area. The animal presented apathy, appetite loss and saliva drooling. A fluctuant, non-painful, fluid filled mass was noted on physical examination. Sialocele was diagnosed and surgery was undertaken to excise the involved gland and mass. The patient was positioned in dorsal recumbence. A skin incision was performed in the cranial-ventral aspect of the mass as it was not possible to precise the affected side. Following drainage of the content, the inner aspect of the sialocele capsule was digitally palpated using the surgeons index finger. However, it was still not possible to determinate the affected side...(AU)