Alimentary System

Salivary Gland, Duct - Concretion

Narrative
Comment:
Concretions (mineralization of material in the ductular lumen) occur infrequently but are most commonly seen in older animals as a background lesion. They may be seen with atrophy. Concretions or foreign bodies can lead to duct dilation, inflammation, and fibrosis.
Recommendations:
A concretion in a salivary duct should be diagnosed whenever present. They need not be graded unless grading would divulge a treatment effect. Secondary lesions, such as dilation, inflammation, and fibrosis, need not be diagnosed separately unless warranted by severity.
References:

Botts S, Jokinen M, Gaillard ET, Elwell MR, Mann PC. 1999. Salivary, Harderian, and lacrimal glands. In: Pathology of the Mouse (Maronpot RR, ed). Cache River Press, St Louis, MO, 49-80.

Neuenschwander SB, Elwell MR. 1990. Salivary glands. In: Pathology of the Fischer Rat (Boorman GA, Montgomery CA, MacKenzie WF, eds). Academic Press, San Diego, CA, 31-42.

  • Image of concretion in the salivary gland duct from a female F344/N rat in a subchronic study

    Salivary gland, Duct - Concretion in a female F344/N rat from a subchronic study. The relatively large concretion (arrow) is obstructing and expanding a salivary duct.

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<p>Salivary gland, Duct - Concretion in a female F344/N rat from a subchronic study. The relatively large concretion (arrow) is obstructing and expanding a salivary duct.</p>

Salivary gland, Duct - Concretion in a female F344/N rat from a subchronic study. The relatively large concretion (arrow) is obstructing and expanding a salivary duct.
<p>Salivary gland, Duct - Concretion in a female F344/N rat from a subchronic study (higher magnification of Figure 1). The concretion became fragmented during processing.</p>

Salivary gland, Duct - Concretion in a female F344/N rat from a subchronic study (higher magnification of Figure 1). The concretion became fragmented during processing.
<p>Salivary gland, Duct - Concretion in a male B6C3F1 mouse from a subchronic study. There is a basophilic concretion (arrow) in a salivary duct.</p>

Salivary gland, Duct - Concretion in a male B6C3F1 mouse from a subchronic study. There is a basophilic concretion (arrow) in a salivary duct.
<p>Salivary gland, Duct - Concretion in a male B6C3F1 mouse from a subchronic study (higher magnification of Figure 3). The concretion is eliciting a chronic inflammatory response around the duct with fibrosis.</p>

Salivary gland, Duct - Concretion in a male B6C3F1 mouse from a subchronic study (higher magnification of Figure 3). The concretion is eliciting a chronic inflammatory response around the duct with fibrosis.
<p>Salivary gland, Duct - Concretion in a female F344/N rat from an acute study. There is a basophilic concretion (arrow) in a salivary duct.</p>

Salivary gland, Duct - Concretion in a female F344/N rat from an acute study. There is a basophilic concretion (arrow) in a salivary duct.
<p>Salivary gland, Duct - Concretion in a female F344/N rat from an acute study (higher magnification of Figure 5). The concretion is eliciting a chronic inflammatory response around the duct with fibrosis.�</p>

Salivary gland, Duct - Concretion in a female F344/N rat from an acute study (higher magnification of Figure 5). The concretion is eliciting a chronic inflammatory response around the duct with fibrosis.�

Authors:

Linda H. Kooistra, DVM, PhD, DACVP
Pathologist
Charles River Laboratories, Inc.
Research Triangle Park, NC

Abraham Nyska, DVM, Diplomate ECVP, Fellow IATP
Expert in Toxicologic Pathology
Visiting Full Professor of Pathology
Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University Timrat Israel

Reviewers:

Joel R. Leininger, DVM, PhD
Senior Pathologist
MedImmune
Washington, DC

Amy Brix, DVM, PhD, DACVP
Senior Pathologist
Experimental Pathology Laboratories, Inc.
Research Triangle Park, NC