Salivary gland endoscopy: a new technique for diagnosis and treatment of sialolithiasis

The use of an endoscopic, minimally invasive technique for the removal of salivary gland stones from the submandibular or parotid duct is described. A 2.0-2.7 mm endoscope is inserted into an incision in the parotid or submandibular duct. When the stone is visualized through the endoscope it is removed using suction and forceps. We used this technique in 45 cases for removal of calculi, screening the ductal system to rule out residual calculi and determination of ductal dilatation. The success rate was 80% and there were no major postoperative complications. To the best of our knowledge these are the first such cases reported in Israel.