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Updated: Feb 3, 2026

Cannulation of the Mouse Submandibular Salivary Gland via the Wharton's Duct
Published on: May 14, 2011
Detection of a metallic foreign body in the Wharton duct: A case report
Peng Li1, HuiCong Zhu, DaHong Huang
1Foshan Stomatology Hospital, School of Stomatology and Medicine, Foshan University, Foshan, Guangdong, P.R. China.
Rationale:
Foreign bodies are rarely found in the submandibular gland and the Wharton duct, due to their physiological and anatomical features.
Patient Concerns:
A 23-year-old man was referred to Foshan Stomatology Hospital in July 2016, with pain and intermittent swelling in the right submandibular area.
Diagnoses:
Physical examination revealed enlarged, indurated, and painful swelling in the right submandibular area, with a normal oral cavity. No abscess or fistula was detected. Radiography and computed tomography (CT) indicated a 1.7 cm radiopaque mass in the Wharton duct, close to the submandibular gland.
Interventions:
Submandibular sialadenectomy was performed under general anesthesia. Upon exploration of the fully dissected submandibular gland, a 2.0 cm long barb-like metallic body was found in the Wharton duct.
Outcomes:
The patient had an uneventful recovery during a 6-months follow-up.
Lessons:
Foreign bodies in the Wharton's duct can be detected by imaging techniques, such as radiography and CT, and successfully treated by submandibular sialadenectomy.
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