Sialendoscopy in treating pediatric salivary gland disorders: a systematic review

Objective: The primary aim of this study is to conduct a systematic review in order to evaluate the use of sialendoscopy in treating pediatric salivary gland disorders. Methods: Eligible articles were identified through a comprehensive search of electronic databases. Using predefined inclusion criteria, published articles on sialendoscopy in children were selected and reviewed. Results: 17 articles including 323 pediatric patients and 424 salivary glands managed by sialendoscopy were identified. The most common salivary gland disorder affected was the parotid (83% of cases), followed by the submandibular gland (16.5% of cases). Juvenile recurrent parotitis (68.9%) was the most frequent diagnosis followed by sialolithiasis (14.7%). The most common complication was ductal perforation. During a pooled mean follow-up time of 18.3 months, recurrences were reported in 14.5% of patients mostly in patients diagnosed with juvenile recurrent parotitis. Conclusion: Sialendoscopy is a minimally invasive diagnostic and therapeutic tool for inflammatory salivary gland disorders in pediatric patients. Based on the current review, sialendoscopy can be successfully implemented in cases of pediatric salivary gland disorders.