Sialendoscopy as a management tool in patients with foreign body impaction of the salivary gland

Abstract

PurposeIt has been long known that sialendoscopy has both diagnostic and therapeutic benefits in the identification and treatment of sialadenitis. Sialendoscopy can also be used to triage patients with traumatic injury or foreign bodies lodged in the parotid gland. ProceduresWe present a case of traumatic insertion a fishbone into the parotid gland parenchyma that was evaluated with sialendoscopy and successfully managed on the basis of stable endoscopy findings that correlated with improving symptomatology. Main findingsWe find that sialendoscopy presents a useful tool to help guide management. ConclusionsWe demonstrate that in an asymptomatic patient, foreign body impaction with absence of ductal obstruction on endoscopy can successfully be followed with simple observation.