Long-term experience with endoscopic diagnosis and treatment of salivary gland inflammatory diseases

Objectives: To assess the efficacy of the sialoendoscopic technique for treatment of inflammatory salivary gland diseases. This report documents the authors' long-term experience with sialoendoscopy and discusses the long-term results of the procedure, technical issues, and varieties that they have utilized, as well as the advantages and limitations of this modality. Study Design: Retrospective clinicopathologic study of 236 patients who were endoscopically treated from 1994 to 1999 for suspected salivary gland obstructive disease. Methods: Endoscope employed was the third generation sialoendoscope (Nahlieli Sialoendoscope, Karl Storz, Tuttlingen, Germany). Results: Ten sialoendoscopies were immediate failures as a result of technical problems. In the remaining 226 glands, 170 had obstructions and 56 had sialadenitis without evidence of obstructions. The success rate was 83%. Multiple endoscopic findings were encountered. No severe complications were noted. Conclusion: This report demonstrates the efficacy and safety of sialoendoscopy as a promising new method for use in the diagnosis, removal, and postoperative management of sialolithiasis, sialadenitis, and other obstructive salivary gland diseases.