Incidence of Acute Suppurative Sialadenitis in End-Stage Cancer Patients: A Retrospective Observational Study

Acute suppurative sialadenitis (hereafter referred to as sialadenitis) is accompanied by pain and fever and can diminish the quality of life in end-stage cancer patients; however, its incidence is not clear.

We conducted this study to elucidate the incidence of sialadenitis in end-stage cancer patients.

Retrospective review and observational study based on patients' medical records.

About 726 consecutive cancer patients who died on the palliative care unit of our hospital between April 2012 and November 2016 were included.

Median duration between sialadenitis onset and death, concomitant treatment, average infusion volume per day, site of onset, symptoms, effectiveness of antibiotic treatment, and mean duration until symptomatic relief.

The incidence of sialadenitis was 2.9% (21 of 726 cases). The median duration from onset to death was 20 days (range 2-112); concomitant treatment included opioids in 11 patients (55%), anticholinergic drugs in six patients (28%), steroids in three patients (14%), and oxygen inhalation in five patients (23%); average infusion volume per day was 588 ± 307 mL; site of onset was submandibular gland in 12 patients (57%) and parotid gland in nine patients (42%); and symptoms were pain in 18 patients (85%) and fever in 13 patients (61%). Antibiotic treatment was administered in 18 patients (85%), and the mean duration until symptomatic relief was 4.0 ± 1.5 days.

Sialadenitis is a rare complication in end-stage cancer patients; however, it is important to recognize that it can be associated with severe symptoms, including fever and pain.