Effect of tympanic neurectomy on human parotid salivary gland. Histopathologic, Histochemical, and Clinical Study.

Five patients with bilateral chronic recurrent parotiditis and ten patients with unilateral persistent paratoid gland fistulas underwent tympanic neurectomies. Two biopsy specimens from the diseased gland were examined. The first biopsy specimen was taken at the time of operation, while the second one was taken six months later. All specimens were subjected to both histopathologic and histochemical investigations. Definite degenerative and atrophic changes occured in all parotid gland specimens taken six months after selective tympanic neurectomy. All patients were completely cured at about that time. This supported the practical indication of the selective tympanic neurectomy for treating certain benign disorders or diseases of the parotid gland that require persistent arrest of the function of its secretory units.