Surgical management of chronic parotitis

A series of 17 consecutive parotidectomies for chronic sialoadenitis is presented. This comprises 10% of all parotidectomies performed by one surgeon over the 5-year period between 1987 and 1991. In 16 patients, symptoms were relieved by surgery. The extent of surgery was guided by the clinical findings. In this series, near total and superficial parotidectomy were equally efficacious and no patient suffered permanent facial nerve dysfunction. Surgery is a safe and effective treatment for parotitis.