Sialographic changes related to clinical and pathologic findings in chronic obstructive parotitis

This paper presents the results from a study of 23 patients with chronic obstructive parotitis (COP) in whom the sialographic changes were related to the clinical and histopathologic features. The sialographic changes were divided into four types. The stimulated parotid flow rate (SPFR) was normal in sialography Type I patients, while SPFR was significantly reduced in Types II, III, and IV patients, as compared with healthy persons. The changes observed by light microscopy were irregular dilation and chronic inflammation of main and branching ducts with saliva deposits in the enlarged luminal system. Ultrastructural changes included degeneration of ductal epithelial cells, marked proliferation of periductal fibrous tissue, and moderately electron-dense deposits in the lumen of the dilated peripheral ducts. The extent of the histopathologic changes largely paralleled the severity of the sialographic changes. These findings indicate that COP is a relatively common inflammatory disease and that the sialographic classification reflects the severity of the disease.