Extracorporeal lithotripsy for salivary calculi: a long-term clinical experience

The objective was to assess in a large series of patients with a long-term clinical follow-up the validity of extracorporeal electromagnetic shock wave lithotripsy as a minimally invasive therapy for sialolithiasis.

Consecutive patient series.

Three hundred twenty-two consecutive symptomatic outpatients with single or multiple calculi in the submandibular (234 patients) or parotid (88 patients) gland underwent a complete extracorporeal electromagnetic shock wave lithotripsy treatment. Treatment results were classified into three groups: successful result with complete ultrasonographic elimination of the stone after lithotripsy, successful result with residual ultrasonographic fragments that were less than 2 mm in diameter, and unsuccessful result with residual ultrasonographic fragments that were greater than 2 mm in diameter. Univariate and multivariate statistical analyses were performed.

Complete elimination of the stone was achieved in 45% of patients. On ultrasonography, residual fragments (<2 mm in diameter) were detected in 27.3% of patients, and persisting fragments greater than 2 mm in diameter were assessed in 27.7% of patients. In 3.1% of patients, all with submandibular gland stones, sialoadenectomy was performed. Recurrence of calculi in the treated gland was observed during a median follow-up period of 57 months in four patients with complete ultrasonographic clearance of the stone occurring 10 to 58 months after lithotripsy. Univariate analysis showed that a favorable treatment result was significantly associated with the younger age of the patients (< or = 46 y), parotid and intraductal localization of the stone, diameter of the stone (< or = 7 mm), and number of therapeutic sessions (< or = 6). On multivariate analysis, the age of the patient, parotid site of the stone, stone diameter, number of therapeutic sessions, and number of shock waves were associated with favorable outcome.

Extracorporeal electromagnetic shock wave lithotripsy is to be considered an efficient, minimally invasive treatment modality for salivary calculi.