Sialoendoscopy for the treatment of pediatric salivary gland disorders.

OBJECTIVE To show that sialoendoscopy is both a safe and effective alternative to traditional treatments for juvenile recurrent parotitis and sialolithiasis. DESIGN Retrospective medical chart review. SETTING Two major pediatric tertiary care centers. PATIENTS Eighteen pediatric patients. INTERVENTIONS A total of 33 sialendoscopic procedures on 27 glands. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Indications for surgery, age at onset of symptoms, age at procedure, sex, intraoperative findings, complications, recurrences, need for additional procedures, and follow-up interval. RESULTS Juvenile recurrent parotitis was the most common indication for sialendoscopy (12 of 18) followed by sialolithiasis (4 of 18). Ten of 12 patients with juvenile recurrent parotitis were asymptomatic after 1 or 2 sialendoscopies (8 patients and 2 patients, respectively). There were 6 minor complications. Three patients ultimately required gland excision for disease management. CONCLUSION Sialoendscopy is safe and effective as a treatment for pediatric salivary gland disorders.