Salivary gland function after sialendoscopy for treatment of chronic radioiodine-induced sialadenitis

Background The purpose of this study was to determine whether sialendoscopy could ameliorate radioactive iodine-induced obstructive sialadenitis and restore the salivary gland dysfunction in recalcitrant radioactive iodine sialadenitis. Methods Ten patients with 15 parotid glands of chronic radioactive iodine sialadenitis who did not respond to medical treatment were enrolled in this prospective study. We assessed subjective symptom scores and evaluated the objective salivary gland functions before and 3 months after sialendoscopy. Results The post-sialendoscopic obstructive symptoms were significantly improved relative to pre-sialendoscopy (p =.009). Xerostomia-related symptom scores post-sialendoscopy did not differ significantly from the pre-sialendoscopy scores. Stimulated salivary flow rate post-sialendoscopy tended to increase relative to pre-sialendoscopy. No pre-sialendoscopic parameters associated with salivary uptake and secretion by salivary gland scintigraphy were significantly improved post-sialendoscopy. Conclusion These results show that sialendoscopy can improve obstructive symptoms; however, it seems to have some limitations for relief of xerostomia and improvement of salivary gland dysfunctions in recalcitrant chronic radioactive iodine sialadenitis.