title: Submandibular gland excision.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  to analyze the value of fine needle aspiration and the rates of postoperative complications in patients undergoing resection of the submandibular gland.
  
  
  METHODS
  we analyzed the records of patients treated with resection of the gland from January 1995 to December 2008. The data collected included age, gender, findings on clinical history, surgical procedure, results of fine needle aspiration (FNA), pathological diagnosis and complications.
  
  
  RESULTS
  117 patients were studied, aged 12-89 years (mean 48), 70 women and 47 men. Thirty-nine patients (33.3%) were affected by inflammatory diseases (28 patients with lithiasis), 70 had benign tumors, and malignant tumors, eight. Regarding FNA, the sensitivity and specificity were 85.7% and 100%, respectively. Nine patients (7.7%) had temporary paralysis of the marginal mandibular nerve and one had permanent paralysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  resection of the submandibular gland is a safe procedure, with low complication rates.
authors.affiliation: Hospital Ana Costa, Santos, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Alexandre Sanfurgo
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: de Carvalho
authors.affiliation: Hospital das Clínicas, Faculty of Medicine, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rogério Aparecido
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Dedivitis
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medical Sciences, Lusiadas UNILUS Foundation, Santos, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mario Augusto Ferrari
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: de Castro
authors.affiliation: Hospital Ana Costa, Santos, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Carlos Eduardo Molinari
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Nardi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013363:Submandibular Gland / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D013364:Submandibular Gland Diseases / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D055815:Young Adult