Salivary mucocoele
Overview
Salivary mucocoeles are cyst-like lesions that arise from the salivary glands within the mouth and neck. It typically arises from a blockage or trauma to a draining duct, resulting in fluid accumulation in the surrounding tissues.
The most common sign of a salivary mucocoele is a soft, fluctuating swelling in the face or neck region, depending on which salivary gland is affected. Some mucocoeles can arise under the tongue (rannula). In extreme cases, the swelling can lead to further complications, such as difficulty swallowing or breathing.
Treatment
The treatment for salivary mucocoeles is often surgery, as conservative treatment is rarely curative. Surgical treatment is removal of the salivary gland and sialocoele (sialoadenectomy). In cases where the mandibular or sublingual salivary glands are affected, both of these will require removal due to sharing a common duct.
As with all surgeries, complications can arise despite our best efforts to prevent them. Thankfully these are rare but do include haemorrhage, infection, reoccurrence and facial nerve damage.
The Outlook
Prognosis for these patients is excellent and patients can return to their normal routine once their surgical wound has healed. Some transient seromas can develop due to ‘dead space’, these often resolve on their own, however reoccurence should be ruled out.
Thyroidectomy
Overview
Thyroidectomy is most commonly performed in cats to treat hyperthyroidism caused by benign adenomas. In dogs, the procedure is rarely required; when it is, it is typically unilateral and performed due to a malignant thyroid tumour.
Pre-Operative Considerations
Laboratory testing should be performed to assess both thyroid status and general organ function. Advanced imaging may be warranted—particularly in canine patients—to evaluate for metastasis and identify any ectopic thyroid tissue. Where possible, feline patients should be rendered euthyroid before anaesthesia, as this lowers the risk of morbidity associated with dilated cardiomyopathy and masked renal disease.
Surgical Technique
The thyroid gland is accessed via a ventral cervical incision. Care is required to avoid trauma to the parathyroid glands, major blood vessels, and the laryngeal and vagosympathetic nerves.
Prognosis and Complications in Cats
The prognosis for feline patients is generally good. However, a small risk of recurrence exists in the years following surgery. Potential complications—including intra-operative haemorrhage, wound issues, and inadvertent injury to the parathyroid glands causing hypoalcaemia—should be discussed with owners beforehand.
Outlook in Dogs
Postoperative prognosis depends on the underlying pathology. Dogs with thyroid adenomas typically respond very well to surgical excision alone. In contrast, the outlook for dogs with adenocarcinomas is more varied, depending upon the stage of disease at the time of surgery. This underlines the importance of histopathology to inform postoperative treatment plans and monitoring.
References
MaryAnn G. Radlinsky, Thyroid Surgery in Dogs and Cats, Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice, Volume 37, Issue 4, 2007, Pages 789-798.
