Lost and found: foreign body in submandibular gland

Area of Science:

• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Medical Imaging
• Foreign Body Management

Background:

• Foreign bodies in the oral cavity can lead to various complications.
• Accidental lodging of foreign objects requires prompt diagnosis and management.
• Submandibular gland involvement by foreign bodies is uncommon.

Observation:

• A young adult male presented with a 28-day history of a retained stapler pin in his oral cavity.
• The patient reported intermittent pain on the right floor of the mouth.
• Clinical examination was unremarkable, with no overt signs of inflammation.

Findings:

• Plain radiography and computed tomography confirmed a linear foreign body within the right submandibular gland.
• Surgical excision of the submandibular gland successfully retrieved a 2 cm stapler pin.
• The absence of significant inflammatory reaction despite the retained foreign body was noted.

Implications:

• This case underscores the importance of considering foreign bodies even in the absence of typical inflammatory signs.
• Advanced imaging modalities are crucial for accurate localization of radiopaque foreign bodies.
• Submandibular gland excision is a viable surgical option for removing deeply embedded foreign objects.