Objectives/hypothesis: Gland-preserving salivary surgery utilizing salivary endoscopy has been proposed as a treatment alternative in the management of chronic sialadenitis. This study seeks to determine medium-term clinical and quality-of-life (QOL) outcomes following a gland-preserving approach for chronic sialadenitis.
Study design: Cross-sectional survey with retrospective chart review.
Methods: All patients undergoing attempted gland-preserving salivary surgery with salivary endoscopy for chronic sialadenitis at a tertiary, academic salivary referral center between October 2008 and April 2013 were identified from a quality assurance database. A research database was constructed to examine clinical factors of interest. A clinical outcomes and QOL survey was mailed to all eligible patients in order to obtain long-term follow-up data.
Results: A total of 206 of 306 (67%) eligible patients returned the survey. The median length of follow-up was 17 months (3-54 months). The majority of patients (89%) endorsed symptom improvement after gland-preserving therapy. Surgical excision was performed on 8% of affected glands. Patients with chronic sialadenitis due to stones reported a greater incidence of symptom resolution (P = 0.0004) and more favorable QOL outcomes (P = 0.0001) than patients with nonstone etiologies.
Conclusions: Patients undergoing gland-preserving salivary surgery with salivary endoscopy for chronic sialadenitis have favorable long-term symptom improvement and gland retention rates. Although patients with stones demonstrated the best outcomes, improvement was documented for all etiologies of chronic sialadenitis.
Level of evidence: 4.
Keywords: Sialadenitis; chronic sialadenitis; quality of life; salivary endoscopy; salivary stone; sialendoscopy; sialolithiasis.
© 2014 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.