[Obstructive sialoadenitis: update of diagnosis and therapy issues]

In head and neck district, major salivary gland diseases seem to have a considerable epidemiological and clinical impact, especially in obstructive disease. Major salivary glands, in fact, having a ductal system can develop several diseases: sialoadenitis, sialodochitis and sialoceles. Particularly, the obstructive sialoadenitis, with or without sialolithiasis, are the most frequent inflammatory disorder, especially for submandibular gland. In the clinical practice, the diagnostic approach for obstructive sialoadenitis up to now consisted of traditional Rx, ultrasonographic technique, scintigraphy technique, C.T., sialography technique with contrast or sialography M.R. Since '90 years, lithotripsy and, later, sialendoscopy have been introduced as gold standard diagnostic procedures in case of obstructive sialoadenitis and also as therapeutic tool when possible. In this way, it has been possible to offer a valid alternative in place of traditional surgical techniques, with a less invasive and more efficacious approach.