Endoscopy and Endoscopic-Assisted Surgical Treatment of Obstructive Salivary Gland Disease

Abstract

Obstructive salivary disease represents around 50 % of non neoplastic salivary disorder. Obstruction may be due to calculi, fibromucinous plugs, duct stenosis, foreign bodies, anatomic variations, or malformations of the duct system. Sialolithiasis is the main important cause of obstructive salivary diseases The introduction of salivary gland endoscopy is a major step forward in diagnosing and locating intraductal obstructions and in allowing minimally invasive surgical treatment that can successfully manage to sialolithiasis, stricture an kinks. Now, using a combination of endoscopic techniques combined with transoral or external approaches, it provides a safe, effective, gland-preserving alternative with success rates between 80% and 100%. Sialendoscopy is also effective in management of pediatric inflammatory and obstructive pathology such as juvenile recurrent parotitis and removing mucus plugs, foreign bodies, polyps, and granulation tissue.