3D radiotherapy in the parotid gland and its dosimetric relationship with salivary flow and quality of life in patients with head and neck cancer

Aim: Hyposalivation and dry mouth affect the quality of life in patients with Head and Neck Cancer, who did the treatment with radiotherapy. Thus this study has the objective to evaluate the dosimetric relationship between 3D radiotherapy and changes in salivary flow, xerostomia and quality of life in patients with head and neck cancer according to the volume of the irradiated parotid gland. Methods: 23 patients with cancer in the head and neck area and in need of 3D radiotherapy were followed up during radiotherapy treatment, and the parotid gland (PG) design was also performed in radiotherapy planning. Questionnaires were carried out to determine xerostomia and quality of life, while the salivary flow was determined through calculations regarding the collection and weighing of saliva. Such data were collected in three moments: before the beginning of the radiotherapy treatment (D0), in the middle of the treatment (D1) and at the end of it (D2). The numerical variables are represented by measures of central tendency and measures of dispersion. Results: when associating the salivary flow, the xerostomia questionnaire and the OHIP-14, a statistically significant difference was found (p-value <0.001), as well as when comparing some volumes of irradiated PG with the OHIP-14. However, no relationship was found between dosimetric data, xerostomia and hyposalivation. Conclusion: patients undergoing 3D radiotherapy for malignant neoplasms in the head and neck region had decreased salivary flow, increased complaints of dry mouth and decreased quality of life. However, it was not possible to establish a statistically significant correlation between these findings and the volumes of irradiated parotids

Surgical Treatment of Chronic Parotitis

Abstract Introduction chronic parotitis (CP) is a hindering, recurring inflammatory ailment that eventually leads to the destruction of the parotid gland. When conservative measures and sialendoscopy fail, parotidectomy can be indicated. Objective to evaluate the efficacy and safety of parotidectomy as a treatment for CP unresponsive to conservative therapy, and to compare superficial and near-total parotidectomy (SP and NTP). Methods retrospective consecutive case series of patients who underwent parotidectomy for CP between January 1999 and May 2012. The primary outcome variables were recurrence, patient contentment, transient and permanent facial nerve palsy and Frey syndrome. The categorical variables were analyzed using the two-sided Fisher exact test. Alongside, an elaborate review of the current literature was conducted. Results a total of 46 parotidectomies were performed on 37 patients with CP. Neartotal parotidectomy was performed in 41 and SP in 5 cases. Eighty-four percent of patients was available for the telephone questionnaire (31 patients, 40 parotidectomies) with a mean follow-up period of 6,2 years. Treatment was successful in 40/46 parotidectomies (87%) and 95% of the patients were content with the result. The incidence of permanent and transient facial nerve palsy was 0 (0%) and 12 (26.1%), respectively. Frey syndrome manifested in 20 (43.5%) patients. Neither this study nor careful review of the current literature resulted in evident difference between SP and NTP regarding the primary outcome variables. Conclusion parotidectomy is a safe and effective treatment for CP in case conservative therapy fails. There is no evidence of a distinct difference between SP and NTP regarding efficiency, facial nerve palsy or Frey syndrome. (AU)

Toxina botulínica para tratamento da sialorreia nos pacientes com doença de Parkinson / Botulinum toxin for treatment of sialorrhea in patients with Parkinson's disease

A sialorreia/ptialismo é um sintoma não motor frequente da doença de Parkinson, que pode causar impacto na saúde e na qualidade de vida dos pacientes. O sintoma decorre da combinação da disfagia com disautonomia e, muitas vezes, também do efeito adverso de drogas frequentemente utilizadas no tratamento de sintomas da doença, como por exemplo, os antipsicóticos atípicos e os inibidores da acetilcolinesterase. Diversas opções terapêuticas são utilizadas na prática clínica para controle da sialorreia, dentre elas, drogas anticolinérgicas ou antagonistas dos receptores adrenérgicos, injeção de toxina botulínica, cirurgia, radioterapia e terapias comportamentais e fonoaudiológicas. Este trabalho faz uma revisão das propostas terapêuticas até o presente momento para controlar a secreção de saliva dos pacientes com doença de Parkinson. A injeção de toxina botulínica nas glândulas salivares guiada por ultrassom é a opção com mais evidência de eficácia e segurança, de acordo com os últimos estudos.

Sialorrhea is a frequent nonmotor symptom in Parkinson´s disease (PD) that influences the patients' health and quality of life. The symptom arises from a combination of difficulty in swallowing saliva, autonomic dysfunction or as a side effect of frequent used drugs to control symptoms of the disease, as for example, atypical antipsychotics and acetylcholinesterase inhibitors. In clinical practice, different therapeutic approaches are used to control sialorrhea, such as anticholinergic or beta adrenergic antagonistic drugs, botulinum toxin injection, surgery, radiotherapy, behavioral psychotherapy and speech therapy. This paper reviews the therapeutic options available until now to control the loss of saliva from PD patient. Botulinum toxin injection in the salivary glands guided by ultrasound shows the best efficacy and security profile, according to the last published data.

Primary treatment of early fistula of parotid duct with botulinum toxin type A injection

Abstract: Salivary duct injury can be idiopathic, iatrogenic, or post-trauma and may result in sialocele or fistula. Most injuries regress spontaneously and botulinum toxin A is one of several therapeutic possibilities. We report a case of iatrogenic injury to the parotid duct after Mohs' micographic surgery for a squamous cell carcinoma excision in the left jaw region, treated by injection of botulinum toxin type A. Although the fistula by duct injury can be self-limiting, botulinum toxin injection by promoting the inactivity of the salivary gland allows rapid healing of the fistula.

Epidermal growth factor receptors, testosterone levels and parotid gland changes in rats infected with Trypanosoma cruzi

It has been demonstrated that parotid glands of rats infected with Trypanosoma cruzi present severe histological alterations; changes include reduction in density and volume of the acini and duct systems and an increase in connective tissue. We evaluated the association between morphological changes in parotid glands, circulating testosterone levels and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-R) expression in experimental Chagas disease in rats. Animals at 18 days of infection (acute phase) showed a significant decrease in body weight, serum testosterone levels and EGF-R expression in the parotid gland compared with a control group. Since decreases in body weight could lead to a reduction in circulating testosterone concentration, we believe that the reduction in EGF-R expression in parotid glands of infected rats is due to alterations in testosterone levels and atrophy of parotid glands is caused by changes in EGF-R expression. Additionally, at 50 days (chronic phase) of infection parotid glands showed a normal histological aspect likely due to the normalization of the body weight. These findings suggest that the testosterone-EGF-R axis is involved in the histological changes.

Parotiditis crónica recurrente o síndrome de Sjõgren primario juvenil?: reporte de un caso / Chronic recurrent parotiditis or juvenile primary Sjõgren?: a case report

Introduction: Chronic Recurrent Parotiditis is a recurrent swelling of the parotid gland, of multiple etiology. In some cases it may be an early manifestation of Sjõgren's syndrome. Objective: A comparison of both diseases, in light of the clinical, radiological, histological and laboratory findings in a patient suffering from a chronic recurrent parotiditis suggestive of Sjõgren's syndrome. Case Report: A 14 years old girl, seen in Oral Maxillary Medicine consultation at "Hospital Universitario de Maracaibo", for a year's history of multiple episodes of parotid swelling. Glandular involvement was confirmed clinically. While dental cavities and thick saliva were observed, the absence of oral dryness and ocular manifestations resulted in a diagnosis of Chronic Recurrent Parotitis at the time. Due to multiple recurrent dental cavities, high recurrence of the swelling episodes, and poor response to treatment, Sjõgren's syndrome was suspected. Lower lip minor salivary gland biopsy, specific antibodies, sialometry and Schirmer's test were requested, finding enough positive criteria for the diagnosis of Sjõgren's syndrome. Conclusions: Among children and teenagers with CRT with treatment failure, the presence of Sjõgren's syndrome must be evaluated, even in the absence of oral and ocular symptoms.

Introducción: La parotiditis crónica recurrente es una inflamación recidivante de la glándula, producida por diversos factores, sin embargo, ésta en algunos casos puede presentarse como primera manifestación del síndrome de Sjõgren. Objetivo: Describir la relación existente entre los signos y síntomas de ambas patologías, evaluando los hallazgos clínicos, radiográficos, histológicos y de laboratorio encontrados en un paciente con antecedentes de parotiditis crónica recurrente y criterios positivos para Síndrome de Sjõgren. Presentación del caso: Paciente femenino de 14 años de edad, atendida en la consulta de Medicina Bucal del Hospital Universitario de Maracaibo por presentar múltiples aumentos de volumen parotídeo de 1 año de evolución. Clínicamente se confirmó los cambios glandulares, observándose además caries y salivación espesa, sin sequedad bucal ni molestias oculares, llegando al diagnóstico de Parotiditis Crónica Recurrente. Ante las múltiples caries avanzadas, la marcada recurrencia de los episodios inflamatorios y respuesta inadecuada al tratamiento, se solicitó biopsia de glándula salival menor de labio inferior, anticuerpos específicos para el síndrome de Sjõgren, sialometría y test de Schirmer, encontrando criterios positivos suficientes para diagnosticar este Síndrome. Conclusión: En pacientes niños y adolescentes con PCR en los cuales a pesar del tratamiento indicado no se logre prolongar el tiempo entre las recurrencias ni disminuir el aumento de tamaño de la glándula satisfactoriamente, debe ser evaluada la presencia del Síndrome de Sjõgren, aún en ausencia de síntomas oculares y bucales.

Síndrome de Frey tratamiento con toxina botulínica tipo A botox®: reporte de dos casos / Frey syndrome treatment with botulinum toxin type A botox: report of two cases

Evaluar la efectividad del uso de la toxina botulínica tipo A Botox® en el síndrome aurículo-temporal (síndrome de Frey). Se realizó un estudio experimental en dos pacientes femeninas con síndrome de Frey a quienes se les realizó: parotidectomía superficial bilateral por sialodenitis crónica en una, y parotidectomía superficial derecha en la otra, por carcinoma de células acinares, para objetivar el síndrome se utilizó el test de Minor y se uso toxina botulínica tipo A Botox®, aplicándola por vía subcutánea, usando una dosis de 3.0 MU/0.1ml/cm2. Se realizó el test de Minor en dos pacientes con síndrome de Frey. El tiempo de aparición de los síntomas fue: de 6 meses del lado izquierdo y 12 meses en el lado derecho para la que presentaba síndrome bilateral y 12 meses para la segunda paciente, el test de Minor fue positivo en 100 por ciento. Se aplicó toxina botulínica, y con tres meses de seguimiento no se evidenció recidiva objetivizado por el test de Minor. No se presentaron efectos adversos tras la administración de la toxina botulínica tipo A Botox®. La toxina botulínica representa un tratamiento efectivo, seguro y fácil de reproducir en el tratamiento del síndrome de Frey, sin evidencia de efectos adversos, y mejora en la calidad de vida de los pacientes.

Caso clínico: un tratamiento alternativo a la parotiditis crónica / Clinical case: an alternative treatment for chronic parotitis

La parotiditis crónica conocida también como parotiditis juvenil recurrente, se define como la inflamación recurrente de la glándula parótida, asociada a la aparición de sialectasias o dilataciones no obstructivas de los conductos glandulares. Como tratamiento se emplea habitualmente la sialografía que tiene una tasa de éxito que va de 62 por ciento a 94 por ciento. Se presenta aquí un caso de un niño de 4 años de edad con parotiditis crónica, que persiste con episodios de parotiditis, pese a la realización de dos sialografías con un intervalo de 1 año entre ambas. Se decide inyectar violeta genciana, procedimiento que no tuvo complicaciones, después de la inyección remitió la enfermedad

Chronic parotitis, also known as juvenile recurrent parotits, is defined as the recurrent inflammation of the parotid gland, associated to the appearance of sialectasis or non-obstructive dilation of the glandular ducts. Sialography is regularly employed as a treatment, with success rates ranging between 62 and 94 percent. Here we present the case of a 4 year old child with chronic parotitis, that persisted with parotitis episodes despite having two sialographies performed, with one year interval between them. We decided to inject methyl violet, a procedure that was carried out without any complications; and the disease resolved shortly after the injection

Inflamación de glándulas salivales, revisión bibliográfica / Salivary glands inflammation: a review of the literature

Las glándulas salivales son estructuras pares, simétricas y localizadas junto a la rama y el cuerpo de la mandíbula, involucran glándulas parótida (saliva serosa), submaxilar (predominantemente serosa) y sublingual (predominantemente mucosa). Además existen numerosas glándulas salivales menores en la superficie de la mucosa bucal, yugal, palatina y sublingual de la cavidad bucal (300-400 aproximadamente) que producen saliva mucosa. El objetivo de esta revisión bibliográfica es hacer una reseña sobre los diversos proceos infecciosos que afectan las glándulas salivales, los diferentes enfoques diagnósticos y pautas de tratamiento. Los trastornos infecciosos de las glándulas salivares entran en el área de responsabilidad de la odontología, todo facultativo debe estar familiarizado con estos tratornos, las técnicas de diagnóstico aplicables y estar en capacidad de referir aquellos casos que son competencia de los especialistas.

Parotidite crônica inespecífica de agudização intermitente: parotidite crônica recorrente / The intermitent recurrent inespecific chronic parotiditis: chronic recurrent parotiditis

As Parotidites Crônicas tomaram um lugar importante recentemente; o interesse que elas suscitam tiveram tal frequência que chegou-se a pensar num aumento dessas afecções glandulares. Isto foi observado e comprovado por numerosas publicações de trabalhos bem documentados. Neste trabalho de revisão de literatura abordaremos a Parotidite Crônica Inespecífica de Agudização Intemitente (Parotidite Crônica Recorrente), por ser uma doença que afeta um dos pares das glândulas salivares maiores, a parótida, ocorrendo com relativa frequência em nossa Clínica de Semiologia e que apresenta também, além de uma etiologia bastante controvertida, poucos conhecimentos sobre seu tratamento...