[A new therapeutic approach to salivary calculi: extracorporeal lithotripsy]

A common pathology of the salivary gland, salivary lithiases are usually removed by open surgery. Most frequently localized in the sub-mandibular gland, calculi can also occur in the parotid gland. We developed a new procedure to treat salivary lithiasis using extracorporeal electromagnetic shock waves. New material was especially adapted for the salivary gland for lithotripsy without anesthesia. Two-hundred patients were treated; 63% had not lithiasis after treatment and 37% had small residual stones measuring less than 3 mm; 97% of the patients were symptom-free and salivary excretion was improved. We believe that extracorporeal electromagnetic shock waves is a safe noninvasive and well tolerated alternative to open surgery. We use lithotripsy as first line therapy for salivary lithiasis.