What is the cause of the left parotid gland enlargement?
Acute sialadenitis (parotitis).
What is the most common cause of acute sialadenitis?
Ascending bacterial infection with Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus viridans being the most common organisms
How often is sialolithiasis associated with parotitis?
Only in 15% of cases. In causes of sialadenitis of the submandibular gland this may be as a high as 85%.
Which salivary gland is most commonly infected?
Submandibular gland (because of the high rates of sialolithiasis).
The left parotid gland is diffusely and moderately enlarged with adjacent fat stranding extending to buccal space. There is no calculi seen in the path of the parotid duct.
The intraparotid lymph node is enlarged (8mm). The left lower 6th tooth is fractured and carious.