Korean J Otorhinolaryngol-Head Neck Surg.  2023 Sep;66(9):597-602. 10.3342/kjorl-hns.2022.01172.

Usefulness of Stensen’s Duct Steroid Irrigation in Patients With Chronic Sialadenitis of the Parotid Gland

• Choi DG
• Kim YJ
• Lee KD
• Lee HS

• KMID: 2546069
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3342/kjorl-hns.2022.01172

Abstract

Background and Objectives
Inflammatory and obstructive diseases of the salivary glands can cause recurrent pain, swelling, and dry mouth, significantly affecting the quality of life. In most cases, symptoms improve after medical treatment, but if symptoms persist or recur, other treatment methods should be considered. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic effect of salivary duct steroid irrigation in refractory chronic sialadenitis.
Subjects and Method
A retrospective study was conducted on 19 patients who underwent Stensen’s duct steroid irrigation from January 2016 to December 2021. All patients enrolled in study had no improvement of symptoms after medical treatment. The clinical characteristics including etiology, location, symptom duration, underlying disease, treatment response and complications of the patients were analyzed.
Results
Stensen’s duct steroid irrigation was effective in 12 of 19 patients (63%), of which 5 (26%) showed complete disappearance of symptoms. There was no difference in the treatment effect by etiology. The rate of non-response to treatment was high when the symptom duration was more than one year. Temporary parotid gland swelling occurred in two patients after irrigation, while other side effects such as bleeding and infection did not occur.
Conclusion
Salivary duct steroid irrigation is a simple and safe procedure, which may be considered as a treatment method for medically refractory chronic sialadenitis.

Keyword

Chronic sialadenitis; Irradiation induced sialadenitis; Salivary duct