Anterior salivary gland inclusion in the mandible: pathological entity or anatomical variant?

A case of anterior salivary gland inclusion of the mandible is reported and the literature reviewed. It is suggested that these inclusions arise in the same way as the more common examples from the angle of the mandible, by progressive resorption of the lingual cortex in response to pressure exerted by the adjacent salivary glands. It is likely that these lesions become evident on radiographs only when the resorption is marked, and they may, therefore, be more widespread than reported figures indicate. Supportive evidence for this hypothesis is provided by the observations that the lesions usually present in middle age and, on histological examination, exhibit evidence of resorption.