Per oral balloon sialoplasty: results in the treatment of salivary duct stenosis.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the results of balloon dilatation of salivary duct stenosis and to discuss the technique and its limitations.


METHODS
Balloon dilatation of 30 salivary duct stenoses (24 parotid, 6 submandibular) was carried out in 29 patients over a 5-year period. Duct dilatation was performed with a 3-mm-diameter balloon on a 0.035-inch wire passed into the salivary duct under fluoroscopic guidance. The follow-up period ranged from 1 month to 5 years.


RESULTS
In 25 patients balloon dilatation was technically successful in 26 of 30 ducts (87%). Ninety-six percent of parotid duct dilatations and 50% of submandibular duct dilatations were technically successful. Early clinical follow-up after parotid duct dilatation showed that 57% of patients were asymptomatic, 39% showed an improvement in symptoms, and 4% showed no improvement in symptoms. Following technically successful submandibular duct dilatation (3 cases), 1 patient showed complete resolution of symptoms and 1 showed no change in symptoms. No follow-up was available for 1 patient. No significant complications were seen. The longer-term results are presented.


CONCLUSIONS
Balloon dilatation of salivary duct stenosis is a simple, safe, and clinically effective method of relieving obstructive symptoms of parotid duct stenosis.
Brown
A L
AL
Department of Radiology, St. George's Hospital, Blackshaw Road, London SW17 0QT, United Kingdom.
Shepherd
D
D
Buckenham
T M
TM
D002404:Catheterization / Q000379:methods*; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010305:Parotid Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D018987:Salivary Ducts / Q000473:pathology; D012796:Sialography / Q000379:methods; D013364:Submandibular Gland Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome