What is the primary assessment to perform when a parotid duct is inflamed?

Testing for salivary flow is crucial when assessing an inflamed parotid duct. The parotid duct, also known as Stensen's duct, is responsible for draining saliva from the parotid gland into the oral cavity. When the duct is inflamed, there may be changes in salivary flow, which can provide vital information about the nature of the condition.

A normal salivary flow indicates healthy function, while reduced or absent salivary flow may suggest obstruction due to stones, strictures, or inflammation. Additionally, checking salivary flow can help determine the severity of the inflammation, guiding further diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.

Other assessment options may be important in a comprehensive examination but do not directly address the status of the parotid duct. Evaluating airflow, for instance, does not assist in understanding the duct's function. Checking for visible lesions might provide some information about local pathology but would not specifically indicate whether the parotid duct is inflamed. While examining nearby lymph nodes can help assess regional infection or malignancy, it does not directly assess the duct's inflammatory state or functionality. Thus, testing for salivary flow is the most relevant primary assessment in this context.