The Program forComprehensiveManagement ofSalivary Diseases

D E P A R T M E N T O FO T O L A R Y N G O L O G Y

A Division of theMultidisciplinaryHead and NeckSurgery Center

What are Salivary Glands?Salivary glands are the organs in the body responsible forthe production of saliva. The major salivary glands includethe parotid glands in front of the ears, the submandibularglands under the jaw, and the sublingual glands under thetongue. There are hundreds of minor salivary glandsthroughout the oral cavity.

The major salivary glands have ducts, or tubes, that thesaliva flows through to get to the mouth. If these ductsbecome blocked, the glands can become swollen andinfected repeatedly. Poor salivary flow can be fromsalivary stones, narrowing of the duct, or other materialsclogging the system. Historically, recurrent infections andswelling were treated with removal of the glands withexternal incisions. Using the latest technology, surgeonsat Mount Sinai School of Medicine are able to treat these“plumbing” issues endoscopically to potentially avoid anopen procedure. This technique is called sialoendoscopy.

What is Sialoendoscopy?Sialoendoscopy is the use of very small instruments tovisualize within the salivary ducts. The use of scopes andcameras enables physicians to find causes of blockage andpotentially treat them. By employing endoscopicinstruments with lasers, the obstruction of the ductalsystem can be relieved without external incisions orremoving the glands.

The Program forComprehensiveManagement ofSalivary Diseases

Without the need for external incisions, patients go homethe same day. They begin taking fluids while in recoveryand progress to a normal diet at home. Often, onlyminimal amounts of pain medication are required aspatients quickly recover and resume their daily lives

Tumors of the Salivary GlandsTumors of the salivary glands are managed by MountSinai’s Multidisciplinary Head and Neck Cancer team. Forboth benign and malignant disease, the head and necksurgeons at Mount Sinai use the latest research and surgicaltechniques. The coordinated care of our team allowsseamless integration of radiation and chemotherapytreatment protocols for more aggressive diseases whenneeded.

Patients with systemic syndromes, autoimmune diseases,and a history of radioactive iodine treatment, may alsohave dysfunction of the salivary glands. Sometimes speciallip biopsies in addition to blood tests may be needed tobetter characterize the disease process.

Whether endoscopic, minimally invasive techniques orlarge, open procedures are required, the Program forComprehensive Management of Salivary Diseases at MountSinai School of Medicine is experienced in the treatment ofsalivary gland disorders.

VIVEK GURUDUTT, MD joined theFaculty of the Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery at Mount SinaiSchool of Medicine in 2008 as an AssistantProfessor of Otolaryngology. Fellowship trained at the Universityof California School of Medicine, San Francisco, Dr. Gurudutt isboard certified and an expert in head and neck oncology.Additionally, he spent time in Switzerland advancing hisexperience with sialoendoscopy. His clinical interests includegeneral otolaryngology, sleep disorders and diseases of the salivaryglands. His research interests include optical imaging in cancerdetection as well as clinical outcomes research.

How to ReferTo refer a patient or to learn more, please call ourpractice at (212) 241-9410 or (212) 241-9405.

For more information, please visit us atwww.mountsinai.org/headandneck

Physician Access ServicesPhysician Access Services offers referring doctorsand their patients effortless access to the MountSinai Medical Center.Telephone (212) 241-4983Toll Free (877) 241-4983Fax (212) 241-8863

HEAD AND NECK SURGERYThe Mount Sinai Medical CenterDepartment of Otolaryngology

Practice Locations:

Mount Sinai School of MedicineFaculty Practice Associates5 East 98th Street, 8th FloorNew York, NY 10029Telephone (212) 241-9410Fax (212) 427-4088

The Derald H. RuttenbergTreatment Center1190 Fifth AvenueNew York, NY 10029

2052 Richmond RoadStaten Island, NY 10306Telephone (718) 420-1279Fax (212) 427-4088