Simultaneous Ultrasound and sialendoscopy in obstructive salivary gland diseases: Indications and impact in diagnostics and therapy

Background:

Ultrasound (US) and sialendoscopy (SE) are important in diagnosis/differential diagnosis (DD) and therapy of obstructive salivary gland diseases of parotid (PG) and submandibular gland (SMG).

Methods:

In 105 patients US and SE were used simultaneously to answer specific questions in cases who could not be managed by one investigation tool alone. This included several questions regarding sialolithiasis and non-sialolithiasis caused diseases.

Results:

Simultaneous use of US and SE showed helped to clarify one (61%) or several (39%) questions. In 60 patients questions concerning sialolithiasis could be answered: 1. Diagnosis/DD in intraductal sialolithiasis (n = 17, PG n = 12). 2. Pre-therapeutic localization/navigation of stones (n = 27, PG n = 14). 3. DD of extra- and intraductal calcification (n = 5, all PG), 4. Possibility of stone-extraction by a combined approach (n = 14, all PG). 5. Indication of adequate therapy (n = 18, GP n = 7). 6. US/SE-guided stone extraction (n = 1, GP). 7. Post-therapeutic exclusion of residual stones/fragments (n = 36). Indications in non-sialolithiasis cases (n = 45) were the therapy of ductal stenoses (n = 29, all PG), management of complications after trauma (n = 6, all PG) or abscess (n = 4, PG n = 2) as well as the evaluation of the relationship of unclear space occupying lesions to the duct system or diagnosis in duct variations (n = 3 each, PG n = 3).

Conclusion:

The simultaneous application of US and SE proved to be valuable in diagnosis/DD, planning and conducting of therapy and follow up examination in obstructive salivary gland diseases.

Publication History

Publication Date:
18 April 2018 (online)