PAROTID AND SUBMANDIBULAR SIALADENITIS TREATED BY SALIVARY-GLAND EXCISION

Background: The purpose of the present study was to compare and contra st the clinicopathological features and treatment outcome of chronic s ialadenitis involving the parotid and submandibular glands, among pati ents who were treated by excision of the affected gland. Methods: In a series of 88 patients treated over an 8-year period, 47 had parotid s ialadenitis and 41 had submandibular sialadenitis; In the parotid grou p, 63% of patients were symptomatic for longer than 6 months compared with 27% in the submandibular group. Calculi were implicated in the di sease process in 24% of patients with parotid sialadenitis, compared w ith 73% of patients with submandibular disease. Results: Patients with parotid sialadenitis had superficial (n = 14) or near-total parotidec tomy (n = 35), while those with submandibular sialadenitis underwent t otal gland excision. Complications occurred twice as frequently in the parotidectomy group. The rate of temporary facial nerve weakness was 29% after parotidectomy while marginal mandibular nerve dysfunction oc curred after 12% of submandibular excisions. Both procedures were high ly effective in permanently relieving the symptoms of sialadenitis. Co nclusions: Parotid sialadenitis is infrequently associated with stones and tends to run a longer course before surgical intervention is nece ssary. Submandibular sialadenitis usually presents earlier, is seconda ry to calculi and requires early intervention.