[Extracorporeal piezoelectric lithotripsy of salivary calculi. In vitro studies]

The feasibility of fragmentation of salivary stones by a new extracorporeal piezoelectric lithotripter was investigated. A total of 40 salivary stones were submitted to piezoelectric shockwave treatment. Prior to shockwave application the diameter, weight and volume of all the stones were determined. After shockwave application the chemical composition of the stones was investigated by X-ray diffractometry. Fragmentation was achieved in 35 of 40 (87.5%) stones. Of these 40 stones, 25 (62.5%) were disintegrated adequately (residual fragments less than 1.5 mm). No statistically significant correlation was observed between the number of discharges required for disintegration and the diameter, weight, volume or the chemical composition of the stones.