Abstract
Objective: Inflammatory swelling of the salivary glands without radiological findings of sialolithiasis may present a serious diagnostic challenge. A case study of 49 diagnostic sialoendoscopies performed on 44 patients (age: 10-62 years) affected by recurrent inflammatory swelling of salivary glands without radiological evidence of salivary stones is reported.
Method: Intraoperative findings of 49 diagnostic sialoendoscopies attempted on 44 patients were reviewed. All patients experienced episodes of swelling of salivary glands. All patients showed no signs of salivary stones at the preoperative ultrasonography. The patients were contacted by telephone to investigate changes in the symptoms approximatively 6 months after sialoendoscopy.
Results: Sialendoscopy revealed the presence of obstructive mucous plugs in 23 glands (14 submandibulars, 9 parotids) while ductal stenosis was found in 7 cases (2 submandibulars, 5 parotids). A combination of mucous plugs and stenosis was described in 12 glands. Parotid duct sialodochitis was diagnosed in 2 cases. In 1 case the avascular appearance of Stenson’s duct allowed the diagnosis of juvenile recurrent parotitis. Endoscopy revealed no disorders in 4 cases. Thirty-eight patients (77.5%) referred symptom relief at interview.
Conclusion: Sialendoscopy is the procedure of choice in diagnosing chronic non-lithiasic sialoadenitis. Salivary duct dilation by irrigation alleviates the symptoms in these conditions.
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