Long‐term results and subjective outcome after gland‐preserving treatment in parotid duct stenosis

Abstract

To assess the objective long-term results and subjective outcome after treatment of Stensen's duct stenosis. Retrospective study at a tertiary center. The long-term results after treatment with a minimally invasive regimen focusing on sialendoscopy were assessed in 82 patients with 98 parotid duct stenoses after primary gland-preserving treatment. A questionnaire was used to assess the patients' perception of success, including clinical parameters and a visual analogue scale (VAS) assessing pain, symptoms, and salivary gland-related quality of life (QOL). Patients were invited to present for clinical and ultrasound examinations and sialendoscopy. The average follow-up period was 98.48 months. Fifty percent of the patients reported having recurrent gland swelling; but only 19.5% reported recurrent pain and the VAS scores for current symptoms and pain were low. Independent of the type of stenosis, the VAS scores showed a significant reduction in symptoms and improvement in the perceived QOL after the treatment (P = 0.0001 each). Follow-up examinations were carried out in 20.73% of the patients, and sialendoscopy was performed in 12.1% of the patients. After diagnosis, recurrent stenoses (n = 8, 9.75%) were successfully reopened in all cases. The glands were preserved in all of the patients. Long-term evaluation after minimally invasive treatment of stenoses of the parotid duct indicates that high success rates, high rates of gland preservation, and an acceptable subjective patient outcome can be achieved.