[Calcifications of the parotid space. A review]. / Calcifications de la loge parotidienne. Mise au point.

INTRODUCTION: Parotid lithiasis is the main cause of calcifications in the parotid space. However, there are many other less known causes. The aim of our study was to point out the non-lithiasic causes of calcifications in the parotid space. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We conducted an exhaustive review of the literature by mean of PubMed, using the keywords "parotid" and "calcification" and limiting our analysis to the original articles in humans published in English and in French. Articles reporting about microscopic calcifications and who were not dealing with parotid calcifications were excluded. RESULTS: Twenty articles met the inclusion criterions. Tumoral and non-tumoral local causes and systemic causes of parotid calcification were found. The way they revealed was variable. The main tumoral local causes were pleomorphic adenomas, salivary duct carcinomas and adenocarcinomas. The main non-tumoral local causes included vascular malformations and calcified parotid lymph nodes. The main systemic causes were chronic kidney diseases, HIV infection, chronic alcoholism, elevated levels of alkaline phosphatase and auto-immune diseases. DISCUSSION: Eighteen different etiologies of parotid space calcifications could be identified. First line exploration of these lesions relies mainly on conventional radiography and ultrasound examination that are easily available. CT scan remains the reference examination.

Device failure in sialoendoscopy: Intraoperative practical decision-making.

Sialoendoscopy has recently emerged as an alternative to gland excision in management of recurrent sialoadenitis and sialolithiasis. This technique has both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. We report a case of unusual device failure during removal of a submandibular stone from Wharton's duct, which ultimately led to ductal avulsion. Sialoendoscopy is safe and effective in management of non-neoplastic major salivary gland disorders. Ductal avulsion can happen during mechanical procedures like stone removal or dilation of strictures. Failing to release the stone from the basket is very rare but can be problematic and lead to major complications.

Potential airway compromise secondary to impacted Wharton's duct calculus: a noteworthy phenomenon.

OBJECTIVES: This case report describes a patient who suffered an acute, severe complication of unilateral submandibular sialolithiasis, the disease process and management of these patients. CASE REPORT: A 70-year-old woman was under investigation for a recurrent, painful right submandibular swelling and subsequently presented with an acute exacerbation. She exhibited symptoms of acute submandibular sialadenitis, and also reported breathing difficulty and a change in voice quality. Computed tomography imaging showed that this was caused by a submandibular gland duct sialolith, with inflammation extending to the ipsilateral supraglottis. She was treated medically and the stone was removed when the inflammation had stabilised. CONCLUSION: This case highlights the need to thoroughly assess patients with neck swellings, especially when symptoms are atypical, to avoid life-threatening complications.

Endoscopic observation and strategic management of obstructive submandibular sialadenitis.

PURPOSE: Obstructive submandibular sialadenitis is a relatively common disease in the clinic. The present study explored the cause and strategic management of chronic obstructive sialadenitis using sialoendoscopy and surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From January 2005 to October 2007, 128 patients with obstructive symptoms in the submandibular gland were diagnosed using sialoendoscopy and occlusal films, and the obstructions were removed using interventional sialoendoscopy, surgery only, or combined techniques, depending on the size, shape, site, and quality of the sialolith in the duct. The shape and structure of the hilus of the submandibular gland was observed using sialoendoscopy. RESULTS: In the submandibular gland, the histologic features of 128 cases were identified endoscopically and radiographically. The endoscopic findings were of 3 types: sialolith in 114 (89%), mucus plug in 8 (6%), and stenosis in 6 (5%). Of 51 obstructions treated surgically, 47 were removed successfully, for a success rate of 92%. Of 63 obstructions treated using interventional sialoendoscopy, 52 were removed directly by sialoendoscopy, for a success rate of 83%. The unsuccessful cases were treated using sialoendoscopy or surgery. The obstructive symptoms were relieved in 12 of 14 patients without stones using dilation and irrigation under sialoendoscopy. Of the 114 patients with a stone, the sialoliths of 67 (59%) were located in the distal region (behind the first molar). The results showed that the more posterior the stone, the more difficult it was to remove. Three patients with treatment failure ultimately underwent resection of the gland. A basin-like structure in the hilus region was found in 86 (67%) of the 128 patients by sialoendoscopy. Finally, 5 patients were found to have a foreign body (fish bone) surrounded by a sialolith. CONCLUSIONS: Sialoendoscopy is a useful new technique, not to only detect the cause of obstruction in a submandibular gland, but also to treat the obstructive submandibular sialadenitis more effectively if incorporated with conventional surgical approaches.

Causes, natural history, and incidence of salivary stones and obstructions.

Uncertainty about the causes and natural history of salivary stones (sialoliths) and other obstructions is being dispelled by clinical and experimental research. Sialoliths are now shown to be secondary to chronic obstructive sialadenitis. Microscopic stones (sialomicroliths) accumulate during secretory inactivity in normal salivary glands and produce atrophic foci by obstruction. Microbes ascend the main salivary duct during secretory inactivity and proliferate in atrophic foci and cause spreading inflammation, leading to inflammatory swelling and fibrosis that can compress large ducts. This leads to stagnation of secretory material rich in calcium that precipitates onto degenerating cellular membranes to form a sialolith.

Causes of chronic obstructive parotitis and management by sialoendoscopy.

BACKGROUND: Sialoendoscopy is a relatively new technique to detect causes of obstruction in the parotid gland directly and manage the chronic obstructive parotitis effectively combined with continuous lavage and drug perfusion simultaneously. OBJECTIVES: To describe the cause, exploration, and combined management of chronic obstructive parotitis using sialoendoscopy. STUDY DESIGN: Between October 2004 and June 2006, 23 patients with obstructive symptoms were diagnosed by sialography and explored by diagnostic sialoendoscopy. The obstructions were then removed by interventional sialoendoscopy. After obstructions were removed successfully, 0.25% chloramphenicol was used to lavage the duct continuously, and then 40% iodized oil was perfused into duct. The results of follow-up were evaluated by visual analog scales (VAS) of the clinical appearances at different stages. RESULTS: Twenty of the 23 patients were found with various types of stenosis and dilatation of duct on sialography, and 21 patients were explored using sialoendoscopy successfully. The features of these 21 cases found endoscopically were of 4 types: sialolith (n = 4; 19.0%), duct polyps (n = 5; 23.8%), stenosis (n = 3; 14.3%), and mucus plug (n = 9; 42.9%). Seventeen cases were treated successfully, removing obstructions via sialoendoscopy, giving a success rate of 80.9% (17 out of 21). The satisfactory rate after 6 months was 82.4% by VAS and secretion observation. CONCLUSION: Sialoendoscopy is a promising image-guided technique for evaluation and treatment of obstructive disease of the parotid salivary glands.

[Asymptomatic salivary gland stone of unusual size in the Wharton's duct]. / Wharton kanalinda semptom vermeyen dev tükürük bezi tasi.

A 44-year-old male patient presented with a complaint of dysphonia. On oropharynx examination, a polypoid mass was detected in the right vocal cord and firmness in the floor of the mouth, 3-4 cm in size. Computed tomography showed a stone in the right Wharton's duct. Saliva came out of the orifice of the Wharton's duct on palpation. The stone was removed transorally. Despite its huge size (30x20 mm), the patient had no complaint. No recurrence was seen during a follow-up period of 18 months with ultrasonography.

[Diverticulum of the submandibular salivary gland ducts]. / Divertikuly protokov podnizhnecheliustnoi sliunnoi zhelezy.

Examinations of 125 patients with sialolithiasis showed abnormality of the submandibular duct (diverticulum with a sialolith in it) in 3 (2.4%) patients. The authors suggest that diverticulum of the submandibular duct is in fact a variant of its ectasia and can be regarded as a diagnostic nosological entity.

Treatment of chronic sialadenitis by intraductal penicillin or saline.

PURPOSE: We sought to describe the treatment of chronic sialadenitis by intraductal penicillin or saline. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study group consisted of 32 males and 23 females with chronic submandibular sialadenitis aged 12 to 65 years and 16 males and 11 females with chronic parotitis aged 8 to 65 years who were treated by intraductal instillation of penicillin or saline. RESULTS: In the patients with submandibular sialadenitis, 44 patients treated with penicillin and 11 treated with saline became symptom free; symptoms recurred in 3 treated with penicillin, of whom 2 became symptom free after further instillations and 1 after removal of a sialolith at the ductal orifice; and follow-up of 22 patients verified that 18 treated with penicillin and 4 with saline had been symptom free for 1 to 15 years and 1 to 3 years, respectively. In the patients with parotitis, 18 patients treated with penicillin, 8 treated with saline, and 1 treated with both became symptom free; symptoms recurred in 1 treated with penicillin and 1 with saline, both of whom became symptom free after further instillations; and follow-up of 15 patients verified that 11 treated with penicillin, 3 with saline, and 1 with both had been symptom free for 1 to 14 years, 2 to 12 years, and 3 years, respectively. CONCLUSION: The intraductal instillation of penicillin or saline is a simple and surprisingly successful technique for the treatment of chronic sialadenitis.

Plunging ranula as a complication of intraoral removal of a submandibular sialolith.

Mucous cysts in the submandibular region--so-called 'plunging' ranula--are relatively uncommon. We report a case of a plunging ranula that complicated excision of an intraductal sialolith of the submandibular gland.

The role of computerized tomography in the diagnosis and therapy of parotid stones: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Small, semi-calcified parotid stones are difficult to diagnose as imaging can be extremely difficult. Understanding how to diagnose parotid stones is important to dentists, however, because people with this condition develop parotid swellings and may seek routine dental care. CASE DESCRIPTION: The authors describe a classic case of parotid sialadenitis secondary to a small lucent stone in Stensen's duct. They discovered the stone only because of the keen sensitivity of computerized tomography, or CT, to minimal amounts of calcific salts. The CT scan's ability to accurately locate the stone and its position within 1 centimeter of the orifice facilitated a successful intraoral surgical approach. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: CT can be a significant aid in early diagnosis and therapy of patients with parotid stones, who eventually develop sialadenitis. With early intervention, further gland degeneration and parotidectomy will be prevented.

Interventional sialography: a single-center experience.

PURPOSE: To evaluate interventional sialography for the treatment of chronic recurrent sialadenitis due to calculus and/or stricture. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review and follow-up of 12 patients treated over a 3-year period. The techniques for calculus extraction by papillotomy and basket extraction, and stricture dilatation by a combination of predilation with lacrimal dilators and then angioplasty balloons are described and the literature is reviewed. RESULTS: Follow-up of 1-40 months (mean 14.6 months) showed that 7 of 12 patients remained symptom free and 2 others became asymptomatic after an interval. There were no major complications from the procedure. CONCLUSION: Interventional sialography is a safe and acceptable alternative to surgery and can be considered as first-line therapy for symptomatic salivary duct calculus and stricture.

[Lithotripsy in the conservative treatment of salivary stones]. / Konservative Behandlung von Speichelsteinen mittels Lithotripsie.

Otolaryngologists and generalists as well are commonly involved in the evaluation and management of salivary gland stones. Most patients present with a history of recurrent swelling and pain in the gland, associated with eating. Up to date conservative therapy was limited to the treatment of the acute sialadenitis, which may develop as a consequence of the obstruction and often recurs until the function of the salivary gland ceases. Surgical treatment depends on the location of the calculus. Distal stones can be removed trans-orally by dilatation or incision of the duct, whereas those near the hilus and intraglandular stones required excision of the gland, including the disadvantage of a scar and the risk of injury to cranial nerves. Extracorporal shock wave lithotripsy is a new noninvasive method, which allows to destroy intra- and extraglandular salivary stones, mostly without the need of local or general anesthesia. Reported disintegration rates vary from 14% to 85%, depending on site and size of the calculus. About 80% of the patients remain symptomless Lithotripsy of salivary stones is a cost-effective, additional treatment modality to surgery and may be employed on an outpatient basis.