Background: In 5-10% of all cases with an obstructive disease of the major salivary glands, a diagnosis cannot be established by conventional radiological imaging or ultrasound. Using sialendoscopes, intraductal pathology can made visible to the surgeon, aiding in diagnosis and adequate treatment.
Material and methods: Between 2001 and 2005, 369 sialoscopies were performed on 318 patients in the ENT department of the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg. Semi-rigid sialoscopes with an external diameter of between 0.7 and 1.7 mm were used.
Results: In 34.9% of cases conservative treatment was necessary. In 65.1%, based on the sialoscopic findings, further therapeutic procedures such as extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy, interventional sialoscopy or duct slitting were required and planned. Of 133 performed interventional sialoscopies, 83.5% were successful.
Conclusions: Sialoscopy is a useful diagnostic and therapeutic tool in obstructive salivary gland disease. Interventional sialoscopy has been performed with high success rates and has proven to be an important part in our concept of a gland preserving therapeutic regime.