CHRONIC NONSPECIFIC PAROTID SIALADENITIS

Chronic non-specific sialadenitis of the parotid gland is an insidious inflammatory disorder which is characterised by intermittent, often p ainful, swelling of the gland. The disease tends to progress and may l ead to the formation of a fibrous mass. The purpose of this paper is t o review our experience in the surgical management of patients with ch ronic non-specific parotid sialadenitis.In a consecutive series of 100 patients treated for benign parotid disease, 19 were found to have ch ronic nonspecific sialadenitis; 10 were male and 9 female. Mean age wa s 46 years and the mean duration of symptoms was 4.6 years. Sialograph y was performed in two-thirds of the patients and 17 patients were tre ated by superficial parotidectony. Thirteen patients developed tempora ry facial nerve weakness and three Frey's syndrome. Three patients com plained of temporary paraesthesia of the cheek, and two developed pain ful neuroma of the greater auricular nerve. Although there were two ca ses of infection of the parotid duct remnant, no recurrence of deep lo be sialadenitis or fistula formation was noted. Histologically, 3 lesi ons showed mild chronic sialadenitis, the rest had widespread involvem ent of the gland, and prolonged duration of symptoms was associated wi th extensive and severe involvement of the gland. Superficial parotide ctomy has a very high success rate, with minimal long-term complicatio ns, and should be offered early in established cases, to reduce unnece ssary morbidity.