title: Per oral balloon sialoplasty: results in the treatment of salivary duct stenosis.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, St. George's Hospital, Blackshaw Road, London SW17 0QT, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Shepherd
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Buckenham
mesh_terms: 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