Sialendoscopy and sialendoscopically-assisted operations in the treatment of lithiasis of the submandibular and parotid glands: our experience of 239 cases

We present the results of treatment of sialolithiasis of the submandibular and parotid glands using sialendoscopy and sialendoscopy-assisted surgery. Between 2009-2013, 397 consecutive patients (mean (range) age 48 (18-76) years) were treated for obstructive diseases of the major salivary glands (sialolithiasis n=239, 175 submandibular and 64 parotid). In a total of 175 patients with 191 stones in the submandibular gland treated by endoscopic retrieval or surgical release, 149 patients (85%) were rendered free of stones (by sialendoscopy alone n=82, and sialendoscopy with operation n=67) Twenty patients (11%) had residual stones and 6 patients (4%) required excisionof the gland. Sixty-four patients had 71 stones removed from the parotid gland by endoscopic retrieval or surgical release and 43 (67%) were free of stones (by sialendoscopy alone n=25, and sialendoscopy with operation n=18). Twenty patients (31%) had residual stones and one (2%) required removal of the gland. In the group of patients whose stones were removed endoscopically, the effectiveness of sialendoscopy was 87% and 85%, respectively. We confirm that sialendoscopy and sialendoscopy-assisted removal is the current treatment of choice for stones in the submandibular and parotid glands. The indications for excision of the gland are becoming less common as first-line treatment, although it is still indispensable in some cases.