Sialendoscopy: A new diagnostic and therapeutic tool

SummaryBackgroundSialendoscopy is a recently developed minimally invasive diagnostic and therapeutic procedure for the management of obstructive diseases of the salivary glands. This report describes our early experience with this new tool and compares our results with the literature data.Material and methodsThis was a retrospective analysis of the 33 first cases treated at a teaching hospital from October 2009 to June 2011.ResultsThe success rate for diagnostic sialendoscopy was 94%. Sialolithiasis was found in 19 cases and salivary duct stenosis in 11; no canal anomaly was found in two cases. The success rate for stone removal was 79%, while treatment of strictures failed in four cases. Longer surgical experience led to shorter operating times and improved indications as well as better therapeutic outcomes. There were no complications.ConclusionSialendoscopy is a safe technique that can easily be learned by surgeons familiar with endoscopic surgery. However, practical experience is needed to reduce operating times, lower failure rates and determine its precise indications.