Etiology and pathogenesis of the inflammatory diseases of the cephalic salivary glands.

The complexity of the inflammatory pathological processes in the salivary glands, especially in the parotid gland, requires subtle diagnostic techniques. A multitude of clinical, pathological and anatomical as well as laboratory investigation methods are now available. This permits to make a safe diagnosis in most cases. However, many questions concerning etiology and pathogenesis of the inflammatory diseases of the cephalic salivary glands remain unanswered. This impedes a specifically directed therapy with will have to be the aim of further clinical and theoretical research.