Sialendoscopy for non-stone disorders: The current evidence.

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Minimally Invasive Surgery
• Salivary Gland Disorders

Background:

• Non-stone disorders represent a significant challenge in major salivary gland management.
• Sialendoscopy, a minimally invasive technique, has emerged as a potential treatment modality.
• Existing literature on its efficacy for non-stone conditions requires comprehensive review.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review the current literature on the application of sialendoscopy for non-stone disorders of the major salivary glands.
• To evaluate the indications, outcomes, and limitations of sialendoscopy in this context.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature search was conducted across MEDLINE, Embase, and Google Scholar up to May 2016.
• Keywords included "sialendoscopy," "salivary duct stenosis," "Sjogren's disease," "juvenile recurrent parotitis," and "radiation sialadenitis."
• Included were prospective/retrospective original articles, systemic reviews, and meta-analyses; individual case reports were excluded.

Main Results:

• An increasing global trend in using sialendoscopy for various non-stone salivary obstructions was observed.
• Studies are predominantly retrospective, with smaller sample sizes and subjective outcome measures.
• Common indications include scars, juvenile recurrent parotitis, radioiodine sialadenitis, and Sjögren syndrome.

Conclusions:

• Sialendoscopy shows promise as a gland-preserving treatment for non-stone salivary gland disorders.
• While evidence is less established than for stone treatment, its role is expanding.
• Further high-quality research is needed to solidify its established efficacy.