Outcomes from a Multidisciplinary Otolaryngology and Rheumatology Clinic for the Management of Chronic Sialadenitis

Objective Determine the outcomes in children with recurrent sialadenitis after establishment of a multidisciplinary pediatric otolaryngology and rheumatology clinic. Study Design Retrospective review. Setting Single‐center tertiary medical center. Methods We reviewed all children presenting to a multidisciplinary pediatric otolaryngology/rheumatology clinic with recurrent parotitis between December 2019 and April 2023. Results Thirty‐three children presented with recurrent parotitis to a multidisciplinary clinic. Seventy‐seven percent of those with childhood Sjögren's disease (cSjD) had xerophthalmia, and 67% had xerostomia. The cSjD group was more likely to have both abnormal parotid and submandibular findings when compared to the non‐cSjD group ( P < .001). Sixteen percent of the cSjD group had a positive SSA/SSB autoantibody and 47% were antinuclear antibody positive. Fifty percent of the cSjD cohort had a focus score of ≥1 from a minor salivary gland biopsy. There were no significant differences from sialendoscopy outcome between the 2 groups. Seventy percent with juvenile recurrent parotitis showed partial response (PR) or complete response (CR) to sialendoscopy. In the cSjD cohort 3 (27%) reported a CR and 5 (45%) reported a PR. In the non csSjD cohort 5 (42%) reported a CR and 3 (25%) reported a PR. Ten of the 12 cSjD patients on hydroxychloroquine have shown symptom improvement. Conclusion The establishment of a multidisciplinary otolaryngology and rheumatology clinic can provide a more comprehensive evaluation and treatment of the child with recurrent or persistent parotitis than from a regular ENT clinic.