Sialadenitis Without Sialolithiasis Treated by Sialendoscopy

PurposeThe aim of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of interventional sialendoscopy in the management of non–stone obstructive sialadenitis.Patients and MethodsIn the present retrospective study, we assessed the treatment outcomes of 51 patients (34 women and 17 men) who had been diagnosed with sialadenitis without salivary duct stones. The included patients had an obstructive duct condition coupled with recurrent episodes of swelling or pain in a major salivary gland. The patients who had a sialolith detected during the sialendoscopic procedure or by preoperative imaging were excluded from the present study. The outcomes assessment was based on successful removal of the obstructive etiology during the endoscopic procedure and the absence of clinical symptoms after 6 months. The involved glands included 16 submandibular glands and 35 parotid glands.ResultsThe sialendoscopic navigation was successful in 43 of 51 patients (84%). Of the 43 patients, 37 (86%) were free of symptoms from the obstructive gland after the endoscopic procedure. Of the 6 patients who were still symptomatic after the procedure, 5 had involvement of the parotid gland. Finally, 1 of the original 37 symptom-free patients developed recurrent symptoms and denied additional treatment, resulting in 36 of 43 patients (84%) remaining asymptomatic 6 months after endoscopic navigation.ConclusionThe outcomes of the present study suggest that interventional sialendoscopy can provide symptomatic improvement in most subjects. Clinicians should consider sialendoscopy as a useful and minimally invasive procedure to treat sialadenitis without sialolithiasis.