Interventional treatment for juvenile recurrent parotitis: A 10-year experience in a tertiary centre

Abstract

Purpose

To evaluate the demographic characteristics, clinical characteristics, and outcomes of minimally invasive treatment for juvenile recurrent parotitis (JRP), a rare paediatric inflammatory condition affecting the parotid glands and characterised by recurrent episodes of glandular swelling and pain, at a tertiary care institution over a ten-year period.

Methods

This study comprised a retrospective review of patients diagnosed with JRP at a tertiary care institute between January 2013 and January 2023. The inclusion criteria were a diagnosis of JRP, and treatment with at least one surgical intervention. Demographic, clinical, and treatment data were analysed, and statistical correlations were evaluated to identify indicators of disease severity and assess the likelihood of re-intervention.

Results

This study enrolled 31 patients with a median age at symptom onset of 3.5 years. Māori children comprised 29 % of the cohort. Bilateral parotid gland involvement was observed in 74 % of cases, and patients experienced a median of six episodes annually. Lipiodol sialography was the most common initial intervention (61 %), associated with a 21 % re-intervention rate within one year. Sialendoscopy, an alternate treatment, required no re-interventions within the first year, but accounted for a smaller proportion of initial treatments due to limited expertise in the earlier years. Two patients (6 %) experienced major complications following lipiodol sialography.

Conclusion

Minimally invasive techniques, particularly sialendoscopy, demonstrated promising outcomes in managing JRP. However, treatment approaches may vary based on expertise and equipment availability. Larger randomised studies are required to establish optimal management strategies and understand the natural history of JRP.