RESULTS
Of the 349 patients who underwent sialendoscopy from March 2017 to July
2019, 27 patients (35 glands) had type 2 stenosis of the Stensen duct.
Among them, 13 patients (13 glands) underwent combined transoral
sialodochoplasty and were finally enrolled. Patient ages ranged from
13–68 years (median 52 years), and there were seven males (54%) and
six female patients (46%). All 13 patients presented with swelling of
the affected salivary gland, which was accompanied by pain in one
patient and discomfort in two patients. At 3 months post-operation, six
(46.2%) patients reported no remaining symptoms (complete resolution),
and seven (53.8%) patients reported partial improvement of symptoms
(partial resolution). All of the patients were observed to have
neo-papillae that became epithelized on the buccal mucosa. The size of
neo-orifices decreased over time, but was patent as a neo-orifice during
follow-up (Fig. 2). At 3 months post-operation, MR sialography was
performed again to evaluate changes in the stenotic portion and
accompanying megaduct (Fig. 3). Megaduct diameters between pre- and
postoperative MR sialography significantly decreased after transoral
sialodochoplasty (8.05 ± 2.675 vs.
4.15 ± 2.400, P = 0.028). In addition, we found that saliva excretion
was improved after the combined sialodochoplasty, as the distal ducts
were visualized with sialagogues postoperatively (Fig. 3). However,
saliva stasis mostly remained in the dilated ducts, probably because the
thin walls of the megaducts could not fully recover their contraction
ability, even after the operation.