Trans-oral robotic surgery for Hilo-parenchymal submandibular stones

Abstract

Sialolithiasis represents a common benign disease of the major salivary glands. Conventional therapeutic approaches include trans-oral sialendoscopy removal of the stones, duct incision and marsupialization, and trans-cervical sialadenectomy. However, the recent technological innovations of endoscopic and robot-assisted surgery provide unique opportunities to treat submandibular salivary gland stones. During the last decade, surgical robots have been utilized to remove submandibular glands in patients with sialolithiasis. In addition, they have used surgical access methods such as trans-hairline and facelift incisions for superior cosmesis. Most salivary stones involve the submandibular gland (80%–90%), and the most frequent locations are the distal tract of the duct, the hilum, and the hilo-parenchymal area. Trans-oral robotic surgery (TORS) has been proposed for the removal of hilo-parenchymal submandibular stones. TORS appears to be a viable option specifically in cases of deep and nonpalpable stones, multiple and recurrent intraparenchymal stones as well as iatrogenic duct stenoses. In this article, we review and discuss The role of TORS in the treatment of hilo-parenchymal submandibular stones.