Pediatric sialendoscopy in Asians: A preliminary report

Background/purpose The sialendoscopic approach in treating pediatric salivary gland disorders has been reported with great success through the years. Whereas this success has been widely reported in Caucasian populations, relatively little has been reported regarding the use of this procedure in pediatric patients in Asian countries. The purpose of this study is to report our preliminary experience in pediatric sialendoscopy. Methods The data from 20 patients (< 18 years old), who underwent sialendoscopy for obstructive sialoadenitis in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology of Mackay Memorial Hospital between October 2013 and November 2015, were reviewed. Results Twelve of our 20 patients (60%) were diagnosed with sialolithiasis and 8 of our 20 patients (40%) presented with non-lithiasis obstructive sialoadenitis. Ductal stenosis was found in 13 patients, and 18 patients had debris/mucous plug formation. The overall success rate was 95% (19/20) in our series, and 85% (17/20) of the patients had achieved a complete remission after a single sialendoscopy procedure. Conclusions Sialendoscopy is an ideal treatment in the management of obstructive sialoadenitis in Asian pediatric patients. If necessary, Holmium:YAG laser lithotripsy and sialostent placement could be applied, and both procedures are well tolerated in pediatric patients.