Abstract

Salivary lithiasis is a relatively common medical problem. Treatment by invasive endoscopy, intracorporeal lithotripsy, and extracorporeal lithotripsy has been developing worldwide as an alternative to open surgical procedures. We hypothesized that treatment of salivary gland duct stones with endoscopic ductal intervention and extracorporeal lithotripsy could eliminate ductal stones while exposing the patient to less morbidity. In the current study, we analyzed a large clinical series to determine the success of the new techniques and develop an algorithm for comprehensive treatment of salivary stones. Retrospective chart study of 1773 treated salivary ductal pathology cases. Treatment of salivary lithiasis using either duct endoscopy with instrumentation and/or intracorporeal laser lithotripsy or electromagnetic extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy was undertaken for 1773 lithitic glands between 1988 and 2002. A total of 1105 endoscopies were performed on pathologic glands. 668 therapeutic extracorporeal lithotripsies were conducted. Stones were eliminated endoscopically in 96% of patients. Lithotripsy completely destroyed the stones in 63% of the lithotriptor cases; and an additional 35% of these procedures resulted in stone fragmentation with spontaneous expulsion or ancillary endoscopic removal. There were no major complications such as nerve or tooth damage. Early in the endoscopic series, one patient required surgical removal of a lodged wire-basket snare. TIssue effects such as edema, swelling bleeding or infection were temporary and treated as necessary. Four percent of the endoscopic cases and 2% of the lithotriptor cases ultimately required gland excision to remove the stone. The treatment algorithm for salivary stones, which once contained only conventional open surgery, may now include endoscopic instrumentation and extracorporeal lithotripsy. Both techniques are particularly valuable for stones located in the major salivary ducts. This series demonstrates the efficacy of both endoscopic and lithotriptor techniques.

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