Results of Minimally Invasive Gland-Preserving Treatment in Different Types of Parotid Duct Stenosis

Objective: To assess differences in minimally invasive treatment in various types of Stensen duct stenoses, because sparse data have been published concerning this. Design: Retrospective study. Setting: Tertiary reference center, level of evidence: 2b. Patients: Ninety-three patients with stenoses. Methods: Treatment of 111 parotid duct stenoses was evaluated with particular attention to which treatment strategies were successful in various types of stenoses (type 1, inflammatory; type 2, web-associated fibrous; and type 3, fibrous). Minimally invasive treatment consisted of sialendoscopy-guided rinsing with cortisone (all cases) and interventional sialendoscopy with instrumental dilation alone or combined with transoral ductal surgery. Results: Sialendoscopy-guided rinsing with cortisone was sufficient in 73.0% of cases of type 1 stenosis (21.5% of all cases). Interventional sialendoscopy with instrumental dilation was successful in 47.1% of cases of type 2 stenosis and 70.5% of cases of type 3 stenosis (59.2% of all patients). Interventional sialendoscopy combined with transoral duct surgery was successful in 72.7% of cases of type 3 stenosis (8.6% of all cases). Glands could be preserved in 96.4% of cases. Conclusions: Stenoses that can be differentiated using sialendoscopy seem to require different minimally invasive treatment. Sialendoscopy-guided rinsing with cortisone is an important basic anti-inflammatory treatment, particularly in inflammatory stenoses. Interventional sialendoscopy with instrumental dilation, transoral ductal surgery or a combination of both are the first choice in fibrous stenoses.