[Idiopathic bilateral salivary megacanals. Apropos 16 cases]

Investigation in 16 patients attending the stomatology outpatients clinic over the last 18 years has enabled definition of a particular radioclinical entity that has been named "idiopathic bilateral salivary megacanal". This generally parotid affection occurs in patients between 50 and 60 years, the onset usually being by an episode of sialodochitis. In addition to these inflammatory attacks there is the persistence of a bilateral "salivary ejaculation" from the ostia of the principal glands, sometimes after manual expression of a mucoid plug. Sialography shows dilatation of canals, the appearance being very suggestive for Stensen's duct, which becomes sinuous, enrolled and segmented. Dilatation is bilateral and affects the total length of the duct. The problem arises as to whether etiopathogenicity is from parietal canalar dysplasia or a constitutional anomaly of the nerve plexus comparable with that described in congenital megacolon. The latter hypothesis is plausible but requires confirmation from histopathology. The always benign course of the disease justifies conservative therapy only: oral antibiotics and canal massage several times a day, with a neostomy only when absolutely necessary.