Pediatric salivary gland obstructive swelling: sialendoscopic approach.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the efficacy of sialendoscopy as a diagnostic and interventional procedure for salivary ductal pathologies of children.


METHODS
Prospective case series study.


METHODS
Tertiary care teaching hospitals.


METHODS
Eight children were investigated under general anesthesia by sialendoscopy for recurring salivary gland swellings between 2003 to 2004 in two university centers.


METHODS
Diagnostic sialendoscopy was used for classifying ductal lesions as sialolithiasis or stenosis. Interventional sialendoscopy was used to treat these disorders. Different variables were analyzed: type of endoscope used, intraoperative findings, type of device used for sialoliths fragmentation or extraction, total number of procedures, and size and number of sialoliths removed.


RESULTS
Five cases of parotid and three cases of submandibular gland recurring swellings were included in the present study. Diagnostic sialendoscopy was possible in all cases. Salivary stones were found in six patients and parotid ductal stenosis in the remaining two. Multiple stones were seen in two cases. Interventional sialendoscopy was also possible in all cases, allowing an intraductal retrieval of the stones in three cases, and a marsupialization of the duct in two cases. Two cases required laser fragmentation of the stone. No major complications occurred intraoperatively or during follow-up (mean 18 months).


CONCLUSIONS
Diagnostic sialendoscopy is a new technique allowing a reliable evaluation of salivary ductal disorders in children, with low morbidity. Interventional sialendoscopy allows early treatment of pediatric sialoliths and stenosis in most cases, avoiding classical open surgery.
Faure
Frederic
F
Hospital Edouard Herriot, ENT Department, Lyon, France. frederic.faure@chu-lyon.fr
Querin
Stephanie
S
Dulguerov
Pavel
P
Froehlich
Patrick
P
Disant
Francois
F
Marchal
Francis
F
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004487:Edema / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D019723:Endoscopes; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence; D015494:Salivary Gland Calculi / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D012796:Sialography; D016896:Treatment Outcome