Diagnosis and treatment of sialolithiasis

Sialolithiasis is the most common disorder of the salivary glands, and may range from tiny particles to several centimeters in length. While the majority of salivary stones are asymptomatic or cause minimal discomfort, larger stones may interfere with the flow of saliva and cause pain and swelling ... if left untreated, they can result in chronic sialadenitis and glandular atrophy. Conservative treatment may consist of oral analgesics and antibiotics. Surgical management may include salivary lithotripsy, basket retrieval and sialendoscopy.