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Review
. 2017 Apr;37(2):168-171.
doi: 10.14639/0392-100X-1608.

Botulinum toxin therapy: functional silencing of salivary disorders

A Lovato  1 , D A Restivo  2 , G Ottaviano  3 , G Marioni  3 , R Marchese-Ragona  3
Affiliations
Review

Botulinum toxin therapy: functional silencing of salivary disorders

A Lovato et al. Acta Otorhinolaryngol Ital. 2017 Apr.

Abstract
in English, Italian

Botulinum toxin (BTX) is a neurotoxic protein produced by Clostridium botulinum, an anaerobic bacterium. BTX therapy is a safe and effective treatment when used for functional silencing of the salivary glands in disorders such as sialoceles and salivary fistulae that may have a post-traumatic or post-operative origin. BTX injections can be considered in sialoceles and salivary fistulae after the failure of or together with conservative treatments (e.g. antibiotics, pressure dressings, or serial aspirations). BTX treatment has a promising role in chronic sialadenitis. BTX therapy is highly successful in the treatment of gustatory sweating (Frey's syndrome), and could be considered the gold standard treatment for this neurological disorder.

La tossina botulinica è una neurotossina prodotta dal batterio anaerobio Clostridium botulinum. L’iniezione di tossina botulinica è un trattamento sicuro ed efficace quando viene usata per inibire la funzione delle ghiandole salivari in patologie come gli sialoceli o le fistole salivari di origine post-traumatica o iatrogena. Negli scialoceli e fistole salivari, il trattamento con tossina botulinica può essere preso in considerazione anche dopo il fallimento o in aggiunta ai trattamenti conservativi non chirurgici. La terapia con tossina botulinica si sta dimostrando promettente anche nel trattamento della scialoadenite cronica. La tossina botulinica ha un elevato tasso di risoluzione nella Sindrome di Frey ed è considerata il gold standard nel trattamento di questo disturbo neurologico.

Keywords: Botulinum toxin; Chronic sialadenitis; Frey’s syndrome; Salivary fistula; Sialocele.

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