Chronic sialadenitis with sialolithiasis associated with parapharyngeal fistula and tonsillolith

• Main Authors: Bharat A. Panuganti, MD, Randall L. Baldassarre, MD, Julie Bykowski, MD, Jacob Husseman, MD
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2017-09-01
• Series: Radiology Case Reports
• Subjects: Sialolithiasis; Sialadenitis; Salivary fistula; Submandibular gland
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1930043317301449

Sialolithiasis is a common salivary pathology, suggested to affect over 1% of the population by postmortem studies. An uncommon complication of sialadenitis and sialolithiasis is the formation of fistulous tracts to other cervicofacial compartments. Submandibular gland sialocutaneous and sialo-oral fistulae have been sparsely described, but a sialo-pharyngeal fistula manifesting as a tonsillolith has yet to be described. We present an unusual case of a 35-year-old male presenting with recalcitrant neck pain and a presumed tonsillolith in the background of chronic submandibular sialadenitis, subsequently demonstrating a salivary fistula through the parapharyngeal space. We offer a thorough review of the literature to highlight the possibility of migratory sialolithiasis and its complications.