Sialendoscopy in treating pediatric salivary gland disorders: a systematic review

Utility of sialendoscopy in the management of juvenile recurrent parotitis. Retrospective study

INTRODUCTION

Juvenile recurrent parotitis is a rare disease characterized by repeated episodes of inflammation affecting, unilaterally or bilaterally, the parotid glands during childhood.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Retrospective study including patients diagnosed with juvenile recurrent parotitis between January 2010 and September 2020 at a tertiary level hospital, with the aim of evaluating the results of medical treatment and sialendoscopy.

RESULTS

A total of 48 patients met the inclusion criteria and had a mean follow-up of 4 years (SD = 3; Min: 2/Max: 12). Regarding treatment, 34 (70.8%) patients received conservative treatment and had a mean of 5 episodes (SD = 3; Min: 2/Max: 13) until symptom resolution. Meanwhile, 14 (29.2%) patients underwent sialendoscopy, of which two (12%) required reintervention. In 100% (14) of the patients treated with sialendoscopy, the findings were consistent with JRP and, after sialendoscopy, a statistically significant reduction in episodes was observed, with a mean of 1 post-intervention episode (SD = 1.5; Min:0/Max: 6) (P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

The results obtained in this study suggest that sialendoscopy is a useful tool in the treatment of juvenile recurrent parotitis. However, new studies comparing the results of sialendoscopy with other therapeutic alternatives are necessary.

Can chatbots enhance the management of pediatric sialadenitis in clinical practice?

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to assess how well ChatGPT, an AI-powered chatbot, performed in helping to manage pediatric sialadenitis and identify when sialendoscopy was necessary.

METHODS

49 clinical cases of pediatric sialadenitis were retrospectively reviewed. ChatGPT was given patient data, and it offered differential diagnoses, proposed further tests, and suggested treatments. The decisions made by the treating otolaryngologists were contrasted with the answers provided by ChatGPT. Analysis was done on ChatGPT response consistency and interrater reliability.

RESULTS

ChatGPT showed 78.57% accuracy in primary diagnosis, and 17.35% of cases were considered likely. On the other hand, otolaryngologists recommended fewer further examinations than ChatGPT (111 vs. 60, p < 0.001). For additional exams, poor agreement was found between ChatGPT and otolaryngologists. Only 28.57% of cases received a pertinent and essential treatment plan via ChatGPT, indicating that the platform's treatment recommendations were frequently lacking. For treatment ratings, judges' interrater reliability was greatest (Kendall's tau = 0.824, p < 0.001). For the most part, ChatGPT's response constancy was high.

CONCLUSIONS

Although ChatGPT has the potential to correctly diagnose pediatric sialadenitis, there are a number of noteworthy limitations with regard to its ability to suggest further testing and treatment regimens. Before widespread clinical use, more research and confirmation are required. To guarantee that chatbots are utilized properly and effectively to supplement human expertise rather than to replace it, a critical viewpoint is required.

Juvenile idiopathic recurrent parotitis (JIRP) treated with short course steroids, a case series study and one decade follow up for potential autoimmune disorder

BACKGROUND

Juvenile idiopathic recurrent parotitis (JIRP) in children is a condition characterized with recurrent episodes of idiopathic parotid gland inflammation. Since there are no definitive guidelines for diagnosis and management of this condition, we present a consecutive case series of patients with more than one decade follow up and their dramatic response to short course treatment by prednisolone.

METHODS

We conducted this study by retrospectively reviewed medical charts of children who were diagnosed with JIRP, from 1 January 2002 to 29 February 2023. We performed usual serological tests to exclude some possible background. We administered short course prednisolone on first day of episode as divided dosage (0.5 mg /kg).

RESULTS

In this case series of 10 patients (70%) were male, median age of onset was 5 years, duration of episodes 5 days, and the mean course of disease were 3.8 years. The average follows up of patients was near 10 years. In comparison with their natural course of disease all patients showed a dramatic response to treatment on the first day of administration of prednisolone (P Value 0.005). For ten years follow up there was not any additional accompanying autoimmune disorder.

CONCLUSION

Short course prednisolone on first day of each episode and its dramatic and meaningful response in our patients, introduce a new, effective, fast, and inexpensive regimen of therapy in patients with JIRP.

Non-neoplastic salivary gland diseases in children: a 10-year review at a tertiary center

OBJECTIVES

Non-neoplastic salivary gland diseases are rare in children. This paper aims to present the spectrum of encountered non-neoplastic salivary gland diseases at a tertiary center by describing the demographics, clinical characteristics, and outcomes in this patient population.

METHODS

A review of electronic medical records was performed from 2010 until 2020. Relevant data were retrieved and charted according to the type of salivary gland disease. A comparison between diseases was made for demographics, presenting symptoms, treatment, and outcomes.

RESULTS

Fifty patients with 11 different non-neoplastic salivary gland diseases were identified. Sialolithiasis was the most prevalent condition (12/50), with 83% localized in the submandibular gland. In contrast to gender, age, and symptoms, the location of pathology was significantly associated with the diagnosis (p < 0.001). In patients with sialolithiasis, a hybrid procedure (combined endoscopy and lithotomy) resulted in 100% resolution of symptoms. For (plunging) ranula, marsupialisation had a relative risk of recurrence of 9.6 compared to (partial) extirpation of the sublingual gland.

CONCLUSIONS

Children with salivary gland diseases present with overlapping symptoms, making clinical diagnosis challenging. The present study may aid physicians and specialists in diagnosing the most prevalent conditions in children. Although no gold standards exist for their treatment, hybrid procedures (sialolithiasis) and subglingual gland extirpation (ranula) showed superior results over alternatives.

Sialendoscopy for treatment of major salivary glands diseases: a comprehensive analysis of published systematic reviews and meta-analyses

OBJECTIVES

Sialendoscopy is a minimally invasive procedure used to diagnose and treat obstructive salivary gland diseases. Previous studies in the topic have shown mixed results. The present study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of sialendoscopy through previous systematic reviews for different outcomes of several diseases. We also aimed to assess studies' methodological quality and heterogeneity.

METHODS

We conducted a comprehensive systematic literature search of Pubmed, Embase, Lilacs and Cochrane Library. We included systematic reviews and meta-analyses that used sialendoscopy to treat both lithiasic and alithiasic salivary glands diseases. Data extraction included studies' characteristics and results. We assessed studies' methodological quality using the AMSTAR-2 (A MeaSurement Tool to Assess systematic Reviews 2) tool.

RESULTS

13 studies were included in the review, being 9 in adult populations and 4 in pediatric populations. Sialendoscopy proved to be effective at the treatment of different lithiasic and other obstructive diseases, but with important heterogeneity. The technique was also considered highly safe in most studies. However, studies had a critically low quality of evidence.

CONCLUSIONS

Most studies demonstrated high efficacy and safety of sialendoscopy, but with critically low quality of evidence. We still lack randomized studies in this field, and future systematic reviews on the topic should follow current guidelines to improve conduction and reporting.

Long-term efficacy of sialendoscopy in treating childhood Sjögren's disease with chronological monitoring by salivary gland ultrasonography: A novel approach

BACKGROUND

Childhood Sjögren's Disease (cSjD) is an underdiagnosed phenomenon with clinical and pathophysiological nuances in contrast to Sjögren's Disease (SjD) in the adult population. While adults typically experience sicca symptoms, children with cSjD often present with recurrent parotitis, diverse autoantibody profiles, and renal and neurological manifestations. Diagnosis and classification in pediatric rheumatology remain controversial due to the reliance on adult-focused diagnostic criteria and the lack of standardized treatment and understanding of outcomes. The purpose of the paper is to propose a multimodal treatment plan and demonstrate the effectiveness of sialendoscopy in the management of cSjD.

CASE PRESENTATION

We present the case of a twelve-year-old female diagnosed with cSjD using the 2016 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) and the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) diagnostic criteria for SjD. In addition to medical management, she underwent sialendoscopy with triamcinolone irrigation under sedation and was monitored for progress via salivary gland ultrasonography (SGUS). Over the course of one year, she demonstrated significant improvement in symptoms, with serial SGUS scores gradually decreasing by five points.

CONCLUSIONS

This paper proposes a multimodal treatment plan involving sialendoscopy and medical management as a non-invasive and potentially more effective approach for cSjD. Standardized monitoring through SGUS scoring allows objective and quantifiable measurement of treatment progress, enabling better assessment of glandular tissue status. Recurrence is possible, and each cSjD patient may present differently. Nevertheless, our year-long observation of a patient with cSjD demonstrates that sialendoscopy, as seen in adults, can promote remission of recurrent parotitis in children as well.

Sialendoscopy in Pediatric Sialolithiasis: Two Cases of Salivary Stones in the Parotid Gland and Review of the Literature

Sialolithiasis is one of the most common diseases of the salivary glands and the most common cause of chronic obstructive sialadenitis. Whereas salivary stones are responsible for most of the cases of obstructive sialadenitis in the adult population, sialolithiasis in children is considered relatively rare. We describe two cases of a 9 and a 4-year-old male respectively, with parotid sialolithiasis treated with sialendoscopy. A systematic review of the current literature was also completed in order to evaluate all described cases of parotid sialolithiasis in the pediatric population. We found 25 articles eligible for a total of 42 cases of pediatric parotid sialolithiasis.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12070-023-03508-8.

Sialendoscopy for pediatric salivary gland disorders: a study of safety and effect

PURPOSE

Sialendoscopy has become the preferred modality for managing pediatric salivary gland disorders (PSGD) including juvenile recurrent parotitis (JRP) and sialolithiasis. The literature remains sparse, but several case series have reported good outcomes and few complications. The aim of this study was to investigate the safety and efficacy of sialendoscopy for PSGD in a Danish setting.

METHODS

From a national sialendoscopy database, we included records of children who had undergone sialendoscopy for PSGD at our clinic over a 6-year period. Clinical and intraoperative data, follow-up and e-mail surveys after 1, 3 and 5 years were retrieved for analysis.

RESULTS

We included 52 procedures on 50 glands (32 parotid, 18 submandibular) in 49 children. Of eligible patients, 90% attended clinical follow-up, 80% answered the survey after 1 year, 80% after 3 years and 60% after 5 years. JRP was diagnosed in 33 cases, obstructive causes in 18 cases. Complications noted were ductal perforation (2%), transient lingual nerve affection (4%) and infection (2%). For JRP patients, overall symptoms had improved for 96% after 3 months, 81% after 1 year and 83% after 3 years. For patients suffering from obstruction, overall symptoms were improved for 93% after 3 months and for 100% after 1 year.

CONCLUSION

Sialendoscopy is a safe procedure for PSGD, and effective for sialolithiasis and symptom reduction in JRP.

The effectiveness and safety of sialendoscopy for sialolithiasis in children: a systematic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSE

Sialendoscopy is a new, minimally invasive method that is becoming increasingly more popular than traditional methods for the treatment of sialolithiasis. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, the effectiveness and safety of this method in children with sialolithiasis are investigated.

METHODS

Inclusion criteria were children with sialolithiasis. The information sources were databases MEDLINE and PubMed Central (through PubMed), ScienceDirect, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), citation indexes Scopus and Google Scholar, trial registries, and "gray literature". The last search was performed on September 18, 2022. The risk of bias in included studies was assessed using ROBINS-I tool (Risk Of Bias In Non-randomized Studies of Interventions). The pooled proportion of weighted means was calculated for the quantitative synthesis of available data.

RESULTS

The effectiveness of the method was estimated at 95.5% (95% CI 89.8-99.3%), from 13 studies including 133 cases. The safety was estimated at 97.2% (95% CI 91.8-100%), from 10 studies including 113 cases.

CONCLUSION

The limitations of this study, briefly summarized, are the small number of included studies, the fact that they are mostly retrospective, the difficult application of the guidelines suggested by the PRISMA statement (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) and Cochrane handbook due to the nature of this specific condition and intervention, and the difficulty in assessing reporting bias. The results of the current study indicate that sialendoscopy is an effective and safe method for the treatment of sialolithiasis in children and should be implemented in daily clinical practice.

Sialendoscopy-Based Analysis of Submandibular Duct Papillae with a Proposal for Classification

Identifying a submandibular (Wharton's) duct punctum often hinders sialendoscopy; however, there is a paucity of evidence on whether the appearance of Wharton's duct papilla impacts the sialendoscopic procedure. A classification of Wharton's duct papillae based on the macroscopic appearance, size of dilatation probes, and sialendoscopic approach was proposed herein. The classification describing four main types of papillae, A, B, C, and D, was prospectively evaluated on 351 Wharton's duct papillae in 315 patients. For each papillae type, the demographic/clinical data, intraoperative complications, and time required for sialendoscope introduction were analyzed. Estuary-like papilla (type A) was commonly seen after spontaneous stone extrusion, had no intraoperative complications noted, and had the shortest time required for the sialendoscope introduction. Normal papilla (type B) was the most frequently observed papilla (48.1%), reflecting diverse underlying pathology, while difficult papilla (type C) was often associated with unfavorable anatomical variations of the mandible or floor of the mouth. Substantially closed papilla (type D) had the highest rate of intraoperative complications, namely, perforation with a false passage, and required the longest time for the sialendoscope introduction. In seven patients (2.0%), the entrance into the duct was feasible only through the fistula, while the sialendoscope introduction failed in eight patients (2.3%). In conclusion, the appearance of Wharton's duct papillae may be influenced by the underlying pathology. Based on the proposed classification, papilla typology affects the duration of sialendoscope introduction and may influence the frequency of intraoperative complications.

Pediatric Sialendoscopy

Purpose of Review

To describe the pathophysiology, evaluation, and management of sialadenitis as well as the indications for and outcomes of sialendoscopy in the pediatric population.

Recent Findings

Pediatric sialadenitis makes up a small proportion of all salivary gland disease. Acute viral sialadenitis and juvenile recurrent parotitis are the most common forms of the condition. Juvenile recurrent parotitis is thought to be multifactorial in etiology with infectious, behavioral, autoimmune, and structural contributions. Review of the current literature supports a potential benefit from sialendoscopy for children with recurrent acute or chronic sialadenitis. Sialendoscopy can provide both diagnostic and therapeutic benefits with very low associated risks. The most common sialendoscopy findings include intraductal sludge or debris, sialoliths, and ductal strictures.

Summary

In the select pediatric population, sialendoscopy is a safe and effective procedure with associated decreased rates of recurrent acute sialadenitis including juvenile recurrent parotitis.

The changing landscape of pediatric salivary gland stones: A half-century systematic review

OBJECTIVE

To assess the evidence for pediatric sialolithiasis, including its demographic characteristics, diagnosis, and demonstrate the shift in its treatment paradigm.

DESIGN

A systematic review of sources from the Medline and Embase databases was conducted from inception to Dec 4, 2020. Two researchers independently extracted data and assessed quality.

PATIENTS

Patients under the age of 18 with sialolithiasis were included.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Study design, cohort size, age, sex, symptoms, stone characteristics, diagnostic modality and intervention were collected data points.

RESULTS

Forty-one studies with 243 patients were included in the review, of which 40 were case reports or series. Most stones were found in the submandibular gland (n = 210, 85.4%) and were single stones (n = 101, 71.1%). Average stone size was 7.7 mm. The most common diagnostic imaging modality used was ultrasound (n = 73, 47.4%), shifting from plain radiograph which was favoured in earlier years. Similarly, open gland excision was historically preferred, but since 2000, sialoendoscopy comprised 40.5% of all treatment modalities and continues to increase in prevalence, up to 52.1% by 2020. Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy was associated with the highest complication rate of 54.2%.

CONCLUSIONS

The pediatric sialolithiasis diagnostic and therapeutic landscape has changed with ultrasound replacing plain radiographs, and sialoendoscopy replacing submandibular gland excision. Further high-level quality evidence research is required to refine the indications, effectiveness, and safety of sialoendoscopy in pediatric sialolithiasis.

Pediatric Salivary Gland Disease

Salivary gland disease in the pediatric population is rare, yet it encompasses a wide spectrum of disease. It is estimated that 4.3% of salivary gland disease occurs in the pediatric population, with most classified as nonneoplastic. Further extrapolation reveals that 5% of salivary gland neoplastic diseases occur in patients younger than 20 years. Moreover, salivary gland tumors represent 1% of all head and neck tumors across all ages. Regardless, clinicians across all fields should be familiar with the workup of various pediatric salivary gland diseases and appropriate referral to a pediatric otolaryngologist.

Salivary Gland Disorders in Pediatric Patients: A 20 Years’ Experience

Salivary gland disorders are uncommon in children; they show a lower prevalence when compared to adults. The literature has a relative lack of information about the management and the different treatment protocols regarding these diseases. The aim of this research is to investigate the prevalence of both benign and malignant salivary gland disorders, focusing on diagnostic and therapy. An audit of patients diagnosed with salivary gland disorders was conducted from 2000 to 2020. 99 patients’ records were selected and analyzed: 51 males’ and 48 females’, age 10 ± 4 SD. Obstructive pathologies were the most frequently diagnosed (49 patients) followed by oncologic (21 patients), inflammatory (20 patients), rheumatologic (4 patients), malformative (3 patients) and infective disorders (2 patients). The parotid was the most affected major gland in 47 cases with a prevalence of diagnosis of juvenile recurrent parotitis (JRP) (40.4%), followed by the sublingual gland in 14 cases of ranula (100%) and the submandibular gland in 11 patients suffering from sialolithiasis (84.6%). Swelling was the most common symptom (75.7% of patients). Seven different neoplasms were documented. A greater prevalence of low-grade mucoepidermoid carcinoma among the malignant group (38.1% of oncologic cases) was noted. In regards to benign tumors, pleomorphic adenoma was the most common diagnosis (47.6% of cases). The symptoms and outcomes showed statistical significance concerning gender. Although salivary gland diseases in children and adolescents are rare, it is essential to observe and monitor all of the symptoms to intervene if necessary, as painless swelling is a symptom common from both benign and malignant diseases.

Deep Sedation for Pediatric Parotid Sialendoscopy in Juvenile Recurrent Parotitis

Sialendoscopy is a minimally invasive diagnostic and therapeutic tool for juvenile recurrent parotitis (JRP); the procedure is under general anesthesia, but local anesthesia has been used for sialendoscopy in children >8 years. Based on the experience in children with sedation for gastrointestinal endoscopy, we investigated the reliability and safety of deep sedation for sialendoscopy in JRP. Six children (3 females, 6-13 years) with episodes of parotid swelling underwent interventional (duct dilation and steroid irrigation) sialendoscopy with intravenous bolus of 1 mg/kg propofol and 1 mcg/kg fentanyl, and continuous infusion of 2 mg/kg/h propofol. Sialendoscopy under deep sedation was successfully performed in all the patients; the procedure was well tolerated, without any adverse effects. One event of full awakening was registered and promptly solved without needing to interrupt the procedure. Effectiveness of sialendoscopy under deep sedation was subjectively attested by high positive scores obtained at post-operative standardized questionnaires administered to the patients and their parents, and objectively by the lack of clinical recurrences during the follow-up. The combination of propofol and fentanyl seems to be a reliable and safe means of sedating children with JRP undergoing sialendoscopy.

Unilateral Sialendoscopy for Juvenile Recurrent Parotitis: What Happens to the Other Side?

OBJECTIVE/HYPOTHESIS

Current literature has confirmed the benefits of sialendoscopy for the treatment of juvenile recurrent parotitis (JRP). However, this procedure is often performed unilaterally, although the disease can affect both sides. This article investigated the clinical course of the contralateral parotid (CL) gland in children requiring unilateral sialendoscopy with the goal of clarifying the necessity of primary bilateral sialendoscopy.

STUDY DESIGN

Prospective cohort study in a tertiary center.

METHODS

Over an eight-year period, 77 children with JRP underwent unilateral sialendoscopy. We observed the clinical course of the CL parotid over a minimum follow-up period of 24 months. New episodes of sialadenitis were recorded on both sides along with the need for a second sialendoscopy. These data were correlated with the preoperative symptoms of the contralateral side as well as ultrasound (U/S) findings at baseline assessment.

RESULTS

In total, six children required sialendoscopy on the CL side (7.8%), 62 children remained asymptomatic or with scarce swellings (80.5%), and nine children improved (11.7%). The preoperative U/S findings on the CL side positively correlated with the number of postoperative swellings. The proportion of children needing CL sialendoscopy was higher (21.4%) among children needing a second sialendoscopy on the operated side.

CONCLUSIONS

In the long term, the vast majority of children needing unilateral sialendoscopy do not require similar treatment of the CL parotid gland. However, a history of bilateral swellings along with U/S findings of parenchymal disorganization on the CL side significantly increases the risk of needing further sialendoscopy at a later time.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

4 Laryngoscope, 131:1404-1409, 2021.

Pediatric sialendoscopy: An 11-year study from a single tertiary care center

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the suitability, benefits, and limitations of sialendoscopy for pediatric patients.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective analysis of all pediatric sialendoscopy patients (aged 16 years or younger) in our tertiary care institution between September 2007 and October 2018. We characterized patient data, procedure-related factors, complications, and outcomes.

RESULTS

In total, 55 sialendoscopies were performed on 42 patients. Among these, 36 were diagnostic endoscopies and 19 were interventional. Five endoscopies were performed under local anesthesia. We identified 16 sialolithiasis patients, where removal of a sialolith was possible in 11 (69%) cases; one case required a second endoscopy. We removed two sialoliths under local anesthesia. Among recurrent juvenile parotitis (RJP) patients, 18/20 (90%) were symptom-free after a single sialendoscopy, and all after a second endoscopy. The median follow-up time was 70 months. We achieved a 95% success rate in sialendoscopies, with a failure-to-treat rate of 15%. The complication rate for the study cohort was 2%, with prolonged parotid swelling the only complication encountered.

CONCLUSIONS

Sialendoscopy represented a safe and effective method to treat pediatric patients. Local anesthesia was successful in selected cases, even for sialolith removal. Sialendoscopy had a soothing effect on RJP and the majority of sialoliths were suitable for endoscopic removal.

Juvenile Recurrent Parotitis: The Role of Sialendoscopy

Juvenile recurrent parotitis (JRP) is a recurrent parotid inflammation of nonobstructive, nonsuppurative nature. It manifests in childhood and usually resolves after puberty but may also persist into adulthood. JRP is characterized by recurrent episodes of unilateral or/and bilateral parotid swelling with pain, reduction of salivary secretion, swallowing difficulty, fever, and malaise. The cause of this condition remains obscure. Throughout the last two decades, many therapeutic methods have been used in order to reduce the frequency and severity of JRP. During the acute episodes, conservative approaches (antibiotics, analgesics, sialogogues, massage of the parotid gland, and mouth rinses) are used. Parotidectomy has been suggested in rare selective occasions. Recently, a promising concept of sialendoscopy, which is a minimal invasive endoscopic technique, has been applied. This review outlines the literature on JRP focusing on methods and challenges in diagnosing JRP along with the differential diagnosis of JRP and the function of the parotid during JRP. In addition, we describe the treatment options for JRP, pointing out the importance of sialendoscopy as a diagnostic and treatment procedure that offers improvement in patients' daily life.

Juvenile recurrent parotitis: A systematic review of treatment studies

Juvenile recurrent parotitis is a rare recurrent inflammation of the parotid glands occurring in children. The etiology remains obscure and the treatment is still debated. In the present study, we perform a systematic review of the literature with the purpose of identifying and discussing the treatment options emerged over the last 28 years in order to prevent recurrent episodes of parotitis. We ultimately included 24 studies. The definitions used for juvenile recurrent parotitis varied widely and none of the selected studies referred exactly to the same definition. Only one was a randomized controlled trial and it showed marked benefits with the use of Bear Bile and Huangqi, two traditional Chinese medicines. Two additional study on sialendoscopy included a control group but was not randomized. All the remaining contributions were case series or case reports. The vast majority (n = 19) of the selected studies reported on sialendoscopy. They all documented improvement of the condition following this intervention. An analysis grouping all these studies (corresponding to 336 children) showed that only 25.8% (95% Confidence Interval: 21.5-30.8) of the treated children had further recurrences. However, the only two controlled study on sialendoscopy showed a similar improvement in controls. The remaining four studies were on sialography (n = 2), on oral appliance in the specific group of children with concomitant dental malocclusion (n = 1) on ductal hydrocortisone infusion through catheter inserted in the parotid duct (n = 1). Improvements were documented in all four contributions. This systematic review of the literature did not consent us to draw definite conclusions on the most suitable treatment for juvenile recurrent parotitis. The available evidence is indeed weak and difficult to interpret because of the scarcity of randomized controlled trials, the heterogeneity of the definitions used and the high rate of spontaneous resolution. Future large and well-designed randomized controlled trials that will include children fulfilling a shared definition of the condition are warranted.