Success rate of sialendoscopy. A systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis on the efficacy and safety of sialendoscopy in the treatment of obstructive diseases of the major salivary glands.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We searched four databases for literature. The primary outcome assessed was the success rate. Secondary outcomes included the use of supportive devices, number of sialadenectomies and complications. Risk of bias was assessed. Meta-analyses with subgroup analysis were performed.

RESULTS

In total, 91 studies were included, comprising 8218 patients undergoing 9043 sialendoscopic procedures. The majority of studies had a medium or high risk of bias. The incidence of sialadenectomy varied from 0% to 14%. No major complications were reported. Meta-analysis revealed a weighted pooled success rate of 80.9%. Subgroup analyses showed the weighted pooled success rate in patients with sialoliths (89.6%), stenoses (56.3%), submandibular glands (88.3%), parotid glands (81.2%), patients treated by an endoscopic-assisted transoral removal of a sialolith (86.3%), patients treated by a combined approach of the parotid gland (78.2%), patients with JRP (67.0%) and with RAIS (45.8%).

CONCLUSION

The success rate of sialendoscopy did not considerably change in the last 9 years. Sialendoscopy is an efficient and safe procedure for the treatment of major salivary gland obstructive disease.

Stensen's Duct Stenosis Balloon Dilatation: Long-term Evaluation of Clinical Outcomes and Quality of Life Impacts

OBJECTIVE

To conduct a long-term retrospective evaluation of the safety and effectiveness of sialographic balloon dilatation in Stensen's duct stenosis (SDS).

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective cohort.

SETTING

Single-institution academic tertiary referral center.

METHODS

All SDS balloon dilatations (SSBDs) performed from 2011 to 2017 were monitored. Pain relief was evaluated by a numeric rating scale at 3-year follow-up at least. Long-term glandular swelling frequency patterns, quality of life (QoL), and drug consumption were retrospectively assessed. Procedure-related complications were recorded.

RESULTS

Twenty-one SSBD procedures were recorded (mean ± SD age, 55 ± 12 years), all performed under local anesthesia. SSBD led to complete dilatation in 7 patients (33%), residual stenosis in 8 (38%), and no dilatation (failure) in 6 (29%). Retrospective analysis of clinical outcomes was possible for 17 patients, 71% of whom presented with long-term pain relief, at a mean relief of 3.2 points on the numeric rating scale (P < .001). Long after SSBD, patients presented with a mean decrease of 15.4 glandular swellings per month (P < .001). Medical consumption was reduced to 18% of patients taking some drugs because of SDS after SSBD vs 71% before. SSBD showed an impact on QoL in >80% of patients, with mean improvements of 26% and 25% in the percentage point reduction of physical and mental QoL, respectively (P < .001). No complications were noted except temporary discomfort due to the procedure.

CONCLUSION

Despite the advent of sialendoscopy-guided techniques, SSBD should be considered for SDS treatment, as it is a safe procedure and provides sustained pain relief.

A Prospective Study of Recovery of Salivary Gland Function After Calculus Removal by Sialendoscopy

Sialendoscopy is gaining popularity in treating obstructive sialolithiasis as a gland preserving procedure. The study aimed to determine if the salivary glands recovered apart from symptomatic improvement after interventional sialendoscopy for calculus removal. A prospective comparative study was conducted in a tertiary care center on 24 patients diagnosed with sialolithiasis. The eligibility criterion was patients who underwent calculus removal through interventional sialendoscopy. All patients underwent objective and subjective methods of assessments of function of the salivary glands with the help of salivary Technetium (Tc) 99 Scintigraphy, measurement of salivary flow rate, Chronic obstructive sialadenitis symptoms (COSS), and xerostomia index (XI) questionnaires. Assessments were done before the procedure and repeated after 3 months. Categorical variables were expressed using frequency and percentage. Numerical variables were represented using mean and standard deviation. To test the statistical significance of the difference in the mean of the four parameters Wilcoxen sign ranked test was used. According to our study improvement in functionality was noted in all of the subjective and objective parameters assessed namely Tc scintigraphy, salivary flow rate, COSS questionnaire, and XI questionnaire, with a statistically significant p value (< 0.001). Functionality of salivary gland showed improvement within 3 months of calculus removal through sialendoscopy. There was a marked improvement in the symptoms after sialendoscopy. This study demonstrates that removal of obstructing calculus results in rapid recovery of glandular function thereby emphasizing the need for salivary gland preservation. Level of evidence: Level III.

Simultaneous Application of Ultrasound and Sialendoscopy and its Value in the Management of Sialolithiasis

OBJECTIVE

Ultrasound (US) and sialendoscopy (SE) are routinely used in patients presenting with sialolithiasis in the submandibular (SMG) and parotid gland (PG). The objective was to assess the value of the simultaneous application of US and SE in the management of sialolithiasis.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective study.

SETTING

Tertiary referral center for salivary gland diseases.

PARTICIPANTS

Patients in whom US and SE as single investigation tools were neither conclusive nor useful in the management of sialolithiasis were investigated using both methods simultaneously (simUS + SE).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Establishment of the final diagnosis and/or contribution to the planning/performing of treatment in sialolithiasis.

RESULTS

74 patients were examined by simUS + SE (58.1 % SMG and 41.9 % PG). In all patients (unclear) hyperechoic reflexes were assessed and/or localized by SE-controlled US navigation. 68.9 % of the patients were investigated for diagnostic or differential-diagnostic reasons including distinguishing extraductal from intraductal calcifications and/or to exclude residual stones after therapy. In 52.7 % simUS + SE was used to plan and/or perform further treatment, in 20.3 % to enable performing a combined approach (all PG) and in 29.7 % to evaluate and plan the most adequate therapy (mainly intraductal vs. extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy, 68.2 % of these SMG). In two cases SE-controlled and US-guided stone extraction was performed.

CONCLUSION

SimUS + SE is an innovative approach which proved to be very useful in managing sialolithiasis. It added valuable information regarding the establishment of a diagnosis or differential diagnosis, planning and performing the most adequate treatment, intraoperative control of therapy and postoperative follow-up.

Utility of Ultrasonography for Diagnosis of Salivary Gland Sialolithiasis: A Meta-Analysis

OBJECTIVES

We hypothesized that ultrasonography for salivary gland stone detection would have a diagnostic accuracy similar to that confirmed by sialendoscopy, sialography, or surgery. Therefore, we evaluated the diagnostic characteristics of ultrasonography in terms of submandibular and parotid stone detection compared to confirmatory methods.

METHODS

We searched PubMed, Embase, the Web of Science, SCOPUS, and the Cochrane database to October 31, 2021. The risk of bias was evaluated using the QADAS-2 tool.

RESULTS

Ten studies involving 1393 patients were included in the analysis. The diagnostic odds ratio of ultrasonography was 162.6013 (95% confidence interval [CI] [53.9883; 489.7208] and I² value 81.0%). The area under the summary receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.963. The sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value, and positive predictive value were 0.8992 (95% CI [0.8534; 0.9318]; I²  = 79.9%), 0.9664 (95% CI [0.9290; 0.9844], I²  = 65.6%), 0.8076 (95% CI [0.7256; 0.8694]; I²  = 80.4%), and 0.9853 (95% CI [0.9629; 0.9943]; I²  = 77.4%), respectively. However, high-level among-study heterogeneity (I²  ≥ 50%) was evident, attributable to the inclusion of different glands. On subgroup analysis, significant differences in the negative predictive values (parotid gland only [0.9392], submandibular gland only [0.6718], and parotid and submandibular glands [0.8105]) were apparent. We found no significant among-study difference in the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, or diagnostic odds ratio (P > .05).

CONCLUSION

Ultrasonography usefully detects submandibular and parotid gland stones. Ultrasonography of the parotid gland was associated with the highest diagnostic accuracy, but further clinical studies are needed.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

NA Laryngoscope, 2022.

Ultrasound in Inflammatory and Obstructive Salivary Gland Diseases: Own Experiences and a Review of the Literature

Background: Ultrasound is established as a diagnostic tool in salivary glands for obstructive diseases such as sialolithiasis and tumors. Concerning inflammatory diseases and in non-sialolithiasis-caused obstruction, much fewer data are available. In recent years, technical development has allowed a better assessment of the gland parenchyma, and knowledge about intraductal pathologies has increased considerably, which has provided new insights and a new interpretation of ultrasound findings. Objectives: To provide a comprehensive review of the literature that includes our own experiences and to point out the state of the art in ultrasound in the diagnostics of inflammatory and obstructive salivary gland diseases, taking adequate techniques and recent technical developments into consideration. Data sources and study eligibility criteria: A systematic literature search was performed in Pubmed using various specific key words. Results: According to the literature results, including our own experiences, ultrasound is of value in up to >90% of cases presenting with inflammatory and/or obstructive diseases. Technical developments (e.g., elastography) and the application of modified ultrasound techniques (e.g., transoral ultrasound) have contributed to these results. Today, ultrasound is considered a first-line diagnostic tool in these diseases. However, in some inflammatory diseases, the final diagnosis can be made only after inclusion of the anamnesis, clinical symptoms, serologic blood tests, or histopathologic investigation. Conclusions: Ultrasound can be considered as a first-line diagnostic tool in obstructive and inflammatory salivary gland diseases. In obstructive diseases, it may be sufficient for diagnostics in >90% of cases. In inflammatory diseases, ultrasound is at least an excellent screening method and can be used to establish the diagnosis in cases of an early suspicion. In all diseases ultrasound can contribute to better management and can be used for monitoring during follow-up.

Practical Salivary Ultrasound Imaging Tips and Pearls

Ultrasound imaging is a valuable and effective clinical tool for salivary gland disorder evaluation and management. Pathologies including salivary duct stenosis, sialolithiasis, neoplasms, and autoimmune disorders have characteristic sonographic features. Maneuvers such as bimanual palpation and oral administration of sialagogues during the ultrasound examination can enhance examination findings. Ultrasound guidance is useful for targeting needle biopsies of neoplasms, ensuring appropriate intraparenchymal gland injections, and augmenting salivary duct instrumentation and intraoperative management.

Ultrasound in the diagnosis of parotid duct obstruction not caused by sialolithiasis: diagnostic value in reference to direct visualization with sialendoscopy

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of ultrasound in the obstructive pathology of the parotic gland not caused by sialolithiasis using sialendoscopy as reference standard.

METHODS

Retrospective analysis of all patients who presented with suspected diagnosis of obstructive ductal pathology of the parotid gland other than sialolithiasis between January 2011 and December 2017. 538 patients, for a total of 691 parotid glands were included in the study. Ultrasound was performed, followed by sialendoscopy in all cases. Duct diameter and parenchyma echogenicity were assessed. Direct sialendoscopic examination of the parotid duct was regarded as the reference standard.

RESULTS

Parotid glands with normal sialendoscopic findings (21.6%, n = 149) had a duct diameter of 0.3 mm (0-2.7 mm) and homogeneous hyperechoic parenchyma on ultrasound in 98.7%. Ductal inflammation/sialodochitis (32.9%, n = 227) on sialendoscopy had significantly larger ductal diameter of 0.7 mm (0-4.3 mm, p = 0.001) and hypoechoic parenchyma in 78.0% (p < 0.001). Parotid glands with stenosis (45.6%, n = 315) had hypoechoic parenchyma in 52.6% and a ductal diameter of 4.1 mm (0-19.0 mm; p = 0.001). The ductal diameter was ≥2.7 mm in 95.6% of the stenosis (AUC 0.886, p = 0.001). Using 5.1 mm as benchmark ductal diameter, stenosis with ductal anomaly (68/315) were identifiable with a sensitivity of 92.6% and a specificity of 96.8% (AUC 0.986, p = 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Ultrasound parameters can be used to distinguish different types of obstructive ductal pathology of the parotid gland, supporting the use of this imaging modality as diagnostic tool of first choice.

Salivary gland ultrasound training: Improving anatomic identification in residents

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS

The aim of the study was to introduce and study the role of standardized views for ultrasound of the major salivary glands in resident learning and retention.

STUDY DESIGN

Methods description and prospective case series.

METHODS

Five otolaryngology residents and two patient models were recruited for this study. The participants were timed on their identification of the submandibular gland, sublingual gland, and parotid gland and associated key anatomic structures. Participants were then timed again immediately after being presented a standardized view for each salivary gland: the longitudinal submandibular gland, transverse parotid gland, and submental transverse views. The same participants were then timed one month later to determine retention. A Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to evaluate whether time to identification was equal pre- and post-standardized view instruction.

RESULTS

There was a significant improvement from pre- to post-standardized view instruction in all glands, which was sustained one month later. Practically speaking, assessment times for all participants at the one-month measurement were reasonable, with averages of 71, 42, and 114 s for the submandibular gland, sublingual gland, and parotid gland respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Standardized views provided otolaryngology ultrasonography learners with a reliable, fast, and memorable way to assess the salivary glands and their related structures.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

4.

Salivary and lacrimal dysfunction after radioactive iodine for differentiated thyroid cancer: American Head and Neck Society Endocrine Surgery Section and Salivary Gland Section joint multidisciplinary clinical consensus statement of otolaryngology, ophthalmology, nuclear medicine and endocrinology

BACKGROUND

Postoperative radioactive iodine (RAI) administration is widely utilized in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer. While beneficial in select patients, it is critical to recognize the potential negative sequelae of this treatment. The prevention, diagnosis, and management of the salivary and lacrimal complications of RAI exposure are addressed in this consensus statement.

METHODS

A multidisciplinary panel of experts was convened under the auspices of the American Head and Neck Society Endocrine Surgery and Salivary Gland Sections. Following a comprehensive literature review to assess the current best evidence, this group developed six relevant consensus recommendations.

RESULTS

Consensus recommendations on RAI were made in the areas of patient assessment, optimal utilization, complication prevention, and complication management.

CONCLUSION

Salivary and lacrimal complications secondary to RAI exposure are common and need to be weighed when considering its use. The recommendations included in this statement provide direction for approaches to minimize and manage these complications.

Ultrasound Supplemented by Sialendoscopy: Diagnostic Value in Sialolithiasis

Objective

To assess the value of ultrasound, if indicated, supplemented by sialendoscopy, in the diagnosis of sialolithiasis.

Study Design

Retrospective study.

Setting

Referring center for salivary gland diseases.

Subjects and Methods

All patients who presented with a suspected diagnosis of obstructive sialopathy between January 2011 and April 2017 and had not undergone any treatment were retrospectively evaluated. A total of 2052 patients and 2277 glands were included in the study. Ultrasound examinations were carried out initially and followed by sialendoscopy in all cases. Direct demonstration of sialothiasis by sialendoscopy, transoral ductal surgery, and discharge of concrements/observation of fragments during sialendoscopy after extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy were regarded as definitive evidence of sialolithiasis.

Results

Ultrasound had an accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of 94.77%, 94.91%, 94.57%, 96.14%, and 92.89%, respectively, for the diagnosis of sialolithiasis. All false-positive findings were correctly diagnosed, and in all false-negative findings, stones/fragments were visualized by sialendoscopy. Over 95% of the false-negative findings in major salivary glands (64/67) had visible ductal dilation in sonography, and in 73.1%, the stones not detected on ultrasound were located in the distal part of the duct, which is easily accessible with the sialendoscope.

Conclusion

This study shows that sialolithiasis can be diagnosed using ultrasonography with a high degree of certainty. If supplemented by sialendoscopy, the correct diagnosis could be established in virtually all cases of sialolithiasis. Ultrasound supplemented by sialendoscopy has the potential to serve as an alternative diagnostic standard in the future.