Use of Cone-Beam Computed Tomography in Performing Submandibular Sialolithotomy

Sialolithotomy for submandibular gland lithiasis is a common procedure often performed in the office setting, with the patient under local anesthesia. The location, size, and number of the sialoliths can greatly influence the indication owing to the difficulty of the procedure for hilar and proximal calculi. The purpose of the present study was to report our experience regarding the advantages of using preoperative cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) to evaluate submandibular gland lithiasis in patients undergoing sialolithotomy for calculi located anywhere in the area of Wharton's duct, with special regard to hilar and proximal calculi.

We performed a retrospective study by reviewing the medical records of patients with a diagnosis of sialolithiasis of the submandibular gland using CBCT performed the day of stone removal by sialolithotomy. We have described the operative technique and the CBCT landmarks used for intraoperative orientation and control.

Thirty-two patients with submandibular sialolithiasis were included in the present study. A total of 51 salivary stones were identified using CBCT. Proximal and hilar calculi were encountered in 14 cases. The number of calculi diagnosed using CBCT matched the number of surgically removed calculi in all cases. Transient lingual nerve hypoesthesia was encountered in 2 patients. No obstructive symptoms recurred after surgery.

We found that preoperative CBCT allows for an optimal understanding of the individual stone configuration in relation to the patient's anatomy. It allows for easy identification of the calculi during sialolithotomy, leading to greater confidence in approaching proximal and hilar stones.