Sialendoscopy for Salivary Duct Stone

Kim, Tae Wook; Kang, Je Hyung; Jeong, Han Sin; Son, Young Ik; Baek, Chung Hwan

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
Sialendoscopy was introduced with favorable results in the management of salivary duct stones. We recently attempted this new procedure to diagnose and remove sialoliths for the first time in Korea. In this paper, we aimed to find out the clinical efficacy and limitations of sialendoscopy. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Nine patients, 2 males and 7 females with the average age of 27, who consented to the trial of a new procedure were enrolled in this study beginning in April 2003. Diagnostic sialendoscopy was performed first, and then intervention was attempted after sialoliths were identified. A retrospective analysis was conducted on the characteristics of sialoliths, preoperative work-up, postoperative complications and outcomes. RESULTS: All but one case had sialoliths in the duct of the submandibular gland. In view of diagnostic sialendoscopy, the success rate was 100%, that is, we could detect sialoliths in all cases. In interventional sialendoscopy, however, the success rate was 44% (4 of 9 cases). In 3 cases, the basket broke down or got caught with the stone. Other complications such as salivary duct perforation, bleeding and nerve injury did not occur. CONCLUSION: Sialendocopy is a new, less invasive procedure to visualize the entire salivary ductal system for the diagnosis of salivary duct stone. However, interventional sialendoscopy for the removal of sialolith is a delicate and technically challenging procedure, requiring strict size criteria of the sialolith and much experience of the operator.