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Objective: To assess the success of superficial parotidectomy in the treatment of chronic parotitis (a potentially debilitating disease heralded by recurrent painful swellings) and purulent sialorrhea., Design: A retrospective review., Methods: Ten patients who were managed by superficial parotidectomy after failure of all conservative measures at the Department of Otolaryngology, McGill University were studied., Results: Eight had complete resolution of their disease, and two had minor persistence on follow-up. None of them had permanent facial nerve injury., Conclusion: We therefore advocate superficial parotidectomy for this condition on failure of conservative measures.

Today parotidectomy is a common, safe surgical procedure. With the increase in the number of parotidectomies being performed there have been many reviews of both the immediate and delayed operative complications. Postoperative salivary fistula, although a common occurrence, is usually glossed over or barely mentioned in most reviews. The present study reviews the parotid experience at a major teaching hospital, The Wellesley Hospital, University of Toronto, over a 10-year period. This information was used to draw general conclusions concerning the incidence, etiology and treatment of salivary fistulas as well as their prevention.

A case of suppurative parotitis due to Streptococcus pneumoniae is reported in a patient with Sjögren's syndrome. The rarity of this condition is noted by a review of the literature.

The parotid glands are subject to many pathological disorders other than neoplastic diseases. This large group of disorders is classified for the parotid glands into infectious, metabolic and endocrine, traumatic, congenital, and acquired cystic diseases. The other major salivary glands also can be affected by many of these conditions. In recent years more and more patients have been examined and treated who have had diseases classified according to our concepts. Surgical procedures are now commonly recommended for these groups of patients not only for diagnosis but for treatment as well. The microscopic examination of permanently prepared, stained excised tissues still remains the final diagnostic procedure in most patients in spite of more recently developed diagnostic techniques. Further, the well trained surgeon of today is in a position to assure the patient that permanent injury to the facial nerve trunk or to its branches is only a remote possibility. Lastly, our medical and surgical experiences are discussed in the following groups of patients: those with acute suppurative sialadenitis, those with acute abscess, those with chronic obstructive and non-obstructive sialadenitis, those with traumatic lesions, those with congenital lesions, and those with acquired cystic lesions.