[The ciliated epithelium in the efferent ducts of the submandibular gland].
The examination of 442 bioptic and necroptic submandibular salivary glands revealed that in cases of chronic inflamation of the gland (125 cases) the epithelial lining of its ducts contained ciliated colummar epithelium in 57% of cases. The finding of ciliated epithelium was associated with lithiasis of the gland in nearly 79% of cases. Normal submandibular glands or glands affected with pathological conditions other than chronic inflammation did not contain ciliated epithelium. The present paper is the first one in the literature purposedly dealing with the presence of ciliated epithelium within the ducts of the submandibular gland.