Botulinum toxin therapy: a tempting tool in the management of salivary secretory disorders.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to investigate the feasibility and effectiveness of botulinum toxin therapy in salivary secretory disorders.


METHODS
We treated 24 patients with botulinum neurotoxin type A for drooling, salivary fistulas, sialoceles, recurrent parotitis, and Frey's syndrome; each parotid gland and submandibular gland received 25 to 60 and 10 to 40 mouse units, respectively, per session. All the patients other than those with Frey's syndrome underwent, for diagnostic purpose, color Doppler ultrasonography (Hitachi H 21; frequency, 7.5 MHz, Scanner, Kashiwa, Japan), and Minor's test was carried out for gustatory sweating; pretreatment magnetic resonance sialography (Philips Gyroscan Intera, Eindhoven, The Netherlands) and sialoendoscopy were also performed in selected cases. The follow-up included clinical and ultrasonographic examinations and Minor's test.


RESULTS
A clinical improvement was observed in all patients: complete clinical recovery in 12, subtotal in 6, and partial in 6. A self-assessment test suggested the cessation of sweating by the 10th day in most patients with Frey's syndrome. Botulinum toxin lost its effectiveness approximately after 4 months, requiring further administrations especially for drooling. No major side effects were observed with the exception of transitory paresis of the lower branch of the facial nerve in a patient with concomitant autonomic diabetic neuropathy.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggest that botulinum toxin therapy is valid for the nonsurgical management of patients with salivary secretory disorders; the use of color Doppler ultrasonographic monitoring warrants the safety of the procedure.
Capaccio
Pasquale
P
Department of Otorhinolaryngological and Ophthalmological Sciences, University of Milan, Policlinico Foundation IRCCS, Milan, Italy. pasquale.capaccio@unimi.it
Torretta
Sara
S
Osio
Maurizio
M
Minorati
Davide
D
Ottaviani
Francesco
F
Sambataro
Giuseppe
G
Nascimbene
Cristina
C
Pignataro
Lorenzo
L
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015552:Injections, Intralesional; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012466:Salivary Gland Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012796:Sialography; D012798:Sialorrhea / Q000188:drug therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A