[The value of endoscopy for the diagnosis and treatment of obstructive salivary gland diseases].

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the value of sialoendoscopy in the diagnosis and treatment of chronic obstructive sialadenitis (COS).

METHODS

25 patients (34 sides) who complained of recurrent swelling in the salivary gland region were selected for study from Jan. 2003 to Jun. 2003 at the Department of salivary gland diseases, School of Stomatology, Wuhan University, including 19 parotid cases (27 sides) and 6 submandibular gland cases (7 sides); 16 females and 9 males. And their age range was 17 - 77 years, with an average of 43.72 years. Before sialoendoscopy, 22 parotid cases underwent sialography, and 3 submandibular gland sialoliths cases received an additional standard mandibular occlusal film examination.

RESULTS

Conventional radiographs revealed that 3 cases had submandibular gland radiopaque stones, and 22 had COS. Dilatation of main duct of parotid and submandibular gland were also found in the radiographs. Sialoendoscopy showed: proliferative fibrous materials in the duct; stenosis or dilatation of duct; vasodilatation, erythema on the wall of the duct; mucoid plugs and pyogenic plugs; irregular lumen shape; radiopaque and radiolucent stones.

CONCLUSIONS

Sialoendoscopy may be a safe, effective, and minimal invasive method in the diagnosis and treatment of COS.