The aim of this study was to propose a treatment strategy for intraglandular submandibular calculi based on calculus site. Seventy-three consecutive patients with impalpable intraglandular submandibular calculi were enrolled retrospectively. The calculi were classified as either post-hilar type, central type, or superficial type. Treatment approaches included transoral duct slitting (TDS), interventional basket retrieval (IBR), intraductal laser lithotripsy (ILL), and transcervical lithotomy (TCL). Complete calculus removal with gland preservation was achieved in 64 patients (87.7%). The success rate for post-hilar, central, and superficial calculi was 86.4% (51/59), 90.9% (10/11), and 100% (3/3), respectively. The treatment approach applied in patients with treatment success was TDS in 32 cases, IBR in 20, ILL in nine, and TCL in three. During follow-up (median 17.3 months), one patient experienced gland atrophy and three had ductal stenosis; the remaining 60 patients (93.8%, 60/64) had good clinical outcomes. In the eight failure cases operated by TDS, the deeply situated calculi could not be detached despite the parenchymal incision in five cases, while the procedure was ceased due to the patient\'s inability to cooperate in the other three cases. In the remaining failure case, the submandibular gland was sacrificed after calculus extraction via TCL. Application of the proposed treatment algorithm might help preserve gland function in patients with intraglandular submandibular calculi.

Sialolithiasis occurs in approximately 0.45% to 1.20% of the general population. The typical clinical symptom manifests as a painful swelling of the affected glands after a meal or upon salivary stimulation, which extremely affects the life quality of the patients. With the development of sialendoscopy and lithotripsy, most sialoliths can be successfully removed with preservation of the gland. However, sialoliths in the deep hilar-parenchymal submandibular ducts and impacted parotid stones located in the proximal ducts continue to pose great challenges. Our research center for salivary gland diseases (in Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology) has used sialendoscopy for 17 years and treated >2 000 patients with salivary gland calculi. The success rate was approximately 92% for submandibular gland calculi and 95% for parotid calculi. A variety of minimally invasive surgical techniques have been applied and developed, which add substantial improvements in the treatment of refractory sialolithiasis. Further, the radiographic positioning criteria and treatment strategy are proposed for these intractable stones. Most of the hilar-parenchymal submandibular stones are successfully removed by a transoral approach, including transoral duct slitting and intraductal basket grasping, while a small portion of superficial stones can be removed by a mini-incision in submandibular area. Impacted stones located in the distal third of parotid gland ducts are removed via \"peri-ostium incision\", which is applied to avoid a cicatricial stenosis from a direct ostium incision. Impacted parotid stones located in the middle and proximal third of the Stensen\'s duct are removed via a direct mini-incision or a peri-auricular flap. A direct transcutaneous mini-incision is commonly performed under local anesthesia with an imperceptible scar, and is indicated for most of impacted stones located in the middle third, hilum and intraglandular ducts. By contrast, a peri-auricular flap is performed under general anesthesia with relatively larger operational injury of the gland parenchyma, and should be best reserved for deeper intraglandular stones. Laser lithotripsy has been applied in the treatment of sialolithiasis in the past decade, and holmium ∶YAG laser is reported to have the best therapeutic effects. During the past 3 years, our research group has performed laser lithotripsy for a few cases with intractable salivary stones. From our experiences, withdrawal of the endoscopic tip 0.5-1.0 cm away from the extremity of the laser fiber, consistent saline irrigation, and careful monitoring of gland swelling are of vital importance for avoidance of injuries of the ductal wall and the vulnerable endoscope lens during lithotripsy. Larger calculi require multiple treatment procedures. The risk of ductal stenosis can be alleviated by endoscopic dilation. In summary, appropriate use of various endoscopy-assisted lithotomy helps preserve the gland function in most of the patients with refractory sialolithiasis. Further studies are needed in the following aspects: Transcervical removal of intraglandular submandibular stones, intraductal laser lithotripsy of impacted parotid stones and deep submandibular stones, evaluation of long-term postoperative function of the affected gland, et al.

The aim of this study was to comparatively evaluate the indications and treatment outcomes of two transcutaneous approaches for the removal of impacted parotid stones. Sixty-eight consecutive patients with impacted parotid stones underwent endoscopy-assisted lithotomy via a direct mini-incision or a peri-auricular flap. Clinical safety and outcomes were evaluated. Complete stone extraction was achieved in all patients. In the mini-incision group (52 patients), the stones were in the middle third of the main duct in 31 patients, at the hilum in 16, and in the intraglandular duct in five. In the flap group (16 patients), they were in the middle third of the main duct in one patient, at the hilum in seven, and in the intraglandular duct in eight. Salivary fistula occurred in five mini-incision group patients (9.6%) and four flap group patients (25%). The clinical outcome in the mini-incision group (47 patients, median 25 months of follow-up) was good in 28 patients, fair in 13, and poor in six (12.8%). The clinical outcome in the flap group (16 patients, median 84 months of follow-up) was good in nine patients, fair in five, and poor in two (12.5%). The direct mini-incision approach was found to be safe and effective for impacted stones in the middle third, hilum, and proximal third of the main duct, while the peri-auricular approach would be best reserved for deeper intraglandular stones.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the gland function of patients following endoscopy-assisted removal of impacted hilo-parenchymal stones in the Wharton\'s duct. The study cohort comprised 115 patients who had undergone successful endoscopy-assisted lithotomy for hilo-parenchymal stones (mean diameter 7.7 mm). Gland function was evaluated at a mean 12 months after surgery using ultrasonography, sialography, and/or sialometry. Postoperative ultrasonography of 51 affected glands revealed a regular gland size in 58.8%, normal parenchyma density in 51.0%, and ductal ectasia in 80.4%. Postoperative sialograms of 109 affected glands were scored as type I (approximately normal) in 13 cases, type II (saccular ectasia of the hilo-parenchymal duct with/without stenosis, and no contrast retention) in 64, type III (saccular ectasia of the hilo-parenchymal duct with/without stenosis, and mild contrast retention) in 23, and type IV (poor shape of the main duct with evident contrast retention) in nine cases. The existence of ductal ectasia corresponded well to larger stone cases (P = 0.002). In the postoperative sialometry of 35 patients with unilateral stones, differences between the two sides were insignificant (P > 0.05). For patients with hilo-parenchymal submandibular gland stones, endoscopy-assisted surgery and extended postoperative follow-up help preserve the gland with good function.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the long-term outcome of sialendoscopy-assisted combined approach for parotid sialolithotomy with gland preservation.
METHODS: A retrospective study of patients treated with a combined sialendoscopic and open approach was conducted between 2011 and 2020. Demographic data of patients such as operative technique, stone size, stone location, complications, and symptom relief were collected. Patients were followed up via clinical examination and questionnaires.
RESULTS: Seventy-four patients were included and underwent endoscopy-assisted combined operations for the removal of 98 parotid stones. Of the 98 stones, 92(94%) stones were completely removed and 6(6%) were partially removed. At a mean follow-up of 47.1 ± 35 months, 65 of 74 patients (88%) achieved long-term success. Patients with stone incomplete removal were significantly more often to develop the recurrence of obstructive symptoms (p = 0.000) There were no cases of facial nerve injury or fistula formation. Gland function was preserved in 73 of 74 patients (99%).
CONCLUSIONS: The combined approach for parotid stones is a safe and gland-preserving alternative to parotidectomy. The techniques described here show high success rates and good long-term results, and they avoided the need for gland resection in >95% of cases.

Multiple intraglandular sialolithiasis for stones deep in the glandular parenchyma may require submandibulectomies, especially if sialendoscopic facilities are unavailable. We describe a gland-sparing intraoral sialolithotomy approach for both hilar and intraparenchymal multiple sialoliths. Nine patients with obstructive sialadenitis resulting from multiple sialoliths in both the deep hilar region and the submandibular gland parenchyma were selected for this study. Ultrasonography and computer tomography (CT) scans were performed to determine the location, number and sizes of the calculi and the distance between hilar and intraparenchymal sialoliths. All sialoliths were removed via gland-sparing, intraoral sialolithotomy. In all, 27 stones were found in the 9 patients. The hilar and deeper sialoliths were 4.5-11 and 0.8-4.5 mm, respectively, in diameter. The largest distance between the hilar and intraparenchymal sialoliths was 28.3 mm. Sialoliths in the hilar region were excised through an intraoral incision before deeper intraparenchymal stones were eased out of the same incision site. Postoperative follow-up imaging verified complete sialolith removal. Therefore, submandibular gland multiple sialoliths in the hilum and parenchyma can be successfully removed via an intraoral sialolithotomy under general anesthesia, thereby preserving the gland and restoring its secretory function.

Objective: To investigate the indications and long-term outcomes of endoscopy-assisted removal of parotid gland calculi via a transoral approach. Methods: From August 2005 to December 2016, 158 consecutive patients with parotid gland calculi underwent endoscopy-assisted lithectomy transorally. They included 71 males and 87 females, with an age of 5-84 years. The immediate safety and effectiveness were evaluated. After surgery, the patients were followed up, and gland function was analyzed on the basis of clinical manifestations, sialography, scintigraphy and sialometry. Postoperative sialograms were categorized into 2 types: ①type Ⅰ, the main duct was normal or had ectasia and stenosis, but no persistent contrast was seen on the functional film; ②type Ⅱ, the main duct had ectasia or stenosis, with persistent contrast media on the functional film. Results: Under one endoscopic procedure, the stones (or foreign bodies) were completely removed in 134 cases and almost completely removed in 10 cases, with a success rate of 91.1% (144/158). Of the 144 successful cases, the treatment options included direct basket retrieval or forceps grasping in 77 cases, basket entrapment with direct ostium incision in 36, basket capture with perio-ostium incision in 23 and perio-ostium incision in 8 cases with impacted stones. In two of the initial 14 failure cases, the stones were discharged spontaneously 3 months after operation. During 3-120 months\' follow-up (mean 36 months) of the 146 patients, one had recurrent stone, two developed ductal obturation, 16 had mild symptoms, and the remaining 127 cases were asymptomatic. Of the postoperative sialograms in 34 stone-free patients 25 were type Ⅰ, 9 were type Ⅱ. Both scintigraphy and saliva flow rate indicated an improvement of the affected gland function in some degree (P<0.05). Conclusions: Transoral endoscopy-assisted removal of parotid gland calculi is a safe and effective technique. It is mainly indicated for mobile stones in the main duct or impacted stones in the anterior third of the Stensen\'s duct. Sialography, scintigraphy and sialometry show postoperative improvement of gland function in most of the cases.
目的： 探讨唾液腺内镜辅助腮腺结石口内途径取出术的适应证及中长期疗效。 方法： 收集2005年8月至2016年12月于北京大学口腔医学院·口腔医院医学影像科就诊并采用内镜辅助口内途径取石的158例腮腺结石或异物患者的临床资料，包括男性71例，女性87例，年龄5~84岁；分析取石成功率及并发症；并对患者进行随访，通过临床表现、腮腺造影、核医学及唾液流率检查评价患侧腺体功能。术后患者根据腮腺造影表现分为两型：①Ⅰ型，主导管大致正常或粗细不均，排空正常；②Ⅱ型，主导管有狭窄或扩张，排空迟缓。 结果： 158例患者中144例（91.1%）成功取出，包括经网篮或抓钳直接取出77例；网篮套索结合导管口切开取出36例；网篮套索结合导管旁切开取出23例；余8例嵌于导管前1/3段，网篮套索不成功，经导管旁切开取石。158例中2例经内镜治疗后1~3个月结石自行排出，余12例结石未取出。146例结石或异物取出的患者随访3~120个月（平均36个月），1例结石复发，2例导管闭锁，16例偶有不适，127例无明显自觉症状。34例患者于术后进行患侧腮腺造影检查，造影表现Ⅰ型25例，Ⅱ型9例。核医学检查及唾液流率测定结果均显示术后患侧腺体功能较术前显著提高（P<0.05）。 结论： 内镜辅助腮腺结石口内途径取出术是治疗腮腺结石安全有效的方法；主要适用于主导管内可经网篮套索的移动性结石或导管前1/3段的嵌顿性结石。取石后多数患者腺体功能可恢复。.

Objective: To investigate the different surgical approaches and long-term outcomes of endoscopy-assisted transoral removal of deep hilar and intraparenchymal stones in the Wharton\'s duct. Methods: From January 2008 to March 2018, 481 consecutive patients with deep hilar and intraparenchymal calculi in the Wharton\'s duct underwent endoscopy-assisted transoral removal at Deparment of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology. There were 250 males and 231 females. Their ages ranged from 9-86 years. We operated 476 patients under local anesthesia on an outpatient basis, and the remaining 5 were operated under general anesthesia. On the basis of ultrasonography, spiral CT, sialography and endoscopy, the calculi were classified into 4 types: hilum stones (located at the hilum or proximally with a distance <5 mm from the hilum), infra-hilum stones (intra-glandular stones with a distance of 5-10 mm from the hilum), intraparenchymal stones (with a distance ≥10 mm from the hilum), and multiple stones (concomitant hilum and intra-glandular stones). The treatment approaches included: hilum duct slitting, intraparenchymal duct slitting, submandibulotomy and intraductal retrieval. The success rate, immediate safety and effectiveness of different types of stones were evaluated. After surgery, the patients were followed up, and gland function was analyzed on the basis of clinical symptoms and signs. Results: The calculi sizes varied from 3 to 25 mm, with a mean of 7.8 mm. The calculi were located in the right submandibular gland in 259 patients, in the left submandibular gland in 219 patients and in bilateral glands in 3 patients. The calculi were successfully removed in 446 glands, with a success rate of 92.1% (446/484). The success rate varied according to the stone sites: 97.8% (363/371) for hilum stones, 64.4% (29/45) for infra-hilum stones, 4/16 for intraparenchymal stones and 96.2% (50/52) for multiple stones. The main treatment methods applied included hilum duct slitting in 347 glands, intraparenchymal duct slitting in 13, submandibulotomy in 4, intraductal retrieval in 73, and hilum duct slitting accompanied by intraductal retrieval in 9. Ductal breakage occurred in 2 glands. All patients complained of mild to moderate pain with a duration of 3-7 days. Nine had temporal lingual nerve injury. During 3-120 months\' follow-up (mean 36 months) of the total 484 glands, 1.6% (7/446) developed ranula, 1.3% (6/446) experienced obturation of the main duct and 2.0% (9/446) had recurrent stones. The remaining 95.1% (424/446) glands were symptom-free with good function. Conclusions: Endoscopy-assisted transoral removal of deep hilar and intraparenchymal submandibular calculi is a safe and effective gland-preserving procedure. According to the depth, size and number of the calculi, variant surgical approaches should be attempted to maximize the success rate and to minimize the side effects.
目的： 探讨唾液腺内镜辅助下颌下腺腺门和腺内不同深度结石的取石方法及术后疗效。 方法： 收集2008年1月至2018年3月于北京大学口腔医学院·口腔医院医学影像科就诊、采用内镜辅助口内途径取石的481例（484侧）下颌下腺腺门或腺内结石病例（男性250例，女性231例，年龄9~86岁），根据超声、螺旋CT、造影及内镜所见将结石分为腺门型、腺门下型、腺内型及多发型。采用4种取石方法，方法Ⅰ：腺门部切开取石；方法Ⅱ：腺内追踪主导管取石；方法Ⅲ：腺体切开取石；方法Ⅳ：导管内抓取。分析不同类型结石的取石成功率、并发症以及中长期疗效。 结果： 481例患者中3例为双侧腺门结石。484侧病变中446侧取石成功，取石成功率为92.1%；腺门型、腺门下型、腺内型、多发型结石的取石成功率分别为97.8%（363/371）、64.4%（29/45）、4/16和96.2%（50/52）。取石方法包括方法Ⅰ347侧，方法Ⅱ13侧，方法Ⅲ 4侧，方法Ⅳ73侧，方法Ⅰ+Ⅳ 9侧。2侧术中导管腺门部断裂，所有病例术后腺体及口底肿痛3~7 d，9侧出现暂时性舌神经损伤。取石成功病例平均随访36个月，1.6%（7/446）发生舌下腺囊肿，1.3%（6/446）导管闭锁，2.0%（9/446）结石复发，95.1%（424/446）腺体功能良好。 结论： 对于下颌下腺腺门和腺内不同深度的结石，应在内镜辅助下采用不同方法取石，以最大程度提高取石成功率，减少并发症。.

OBJECTIVE: To quantify gland function before and after endoscopy-assisted lithectomy for patients with parotid stones and to analyze correlations among different evaluation modalities.
METHODS: This study investigated 58 patients (27 men and 31 women) with a stone larger than 5 mm or multiple parotid stones who underwent successful endoscopy-assisted surgery at the authors\' center from August 2007 through September 2017. Meticulous postoperative manipulations were administered routinely for 3 to 6 months to promote functional recovery of the affected gland. Gland function was evaluated preoperatively and 6 to 36 months (mean, 12 months) postoperatively by sialography, scintigraphy, and sialometry. Statistical analyses were conducted to quantify gland function recovery and to distinguish correlations among the 3 objective tests.
RESULTS: Preoperative sialograms exhibited ductal ectasia at the stone site with ductal stenosis anterior to the stone (n = 53) or duct interruption at the stone site (n = 5). Postoperative sialograms of 45 patients without stones were categorized as approximately normal (type I; n = 17); showing ectasia or stenosis of the main duct without persistent contrast on the functional film (type II; n = 16); showing ectasia or stenosis of the main duct with mild contrast retention (type III; n = 6); or showing poor ductal shape with evident contrast retention (type IV; n = 6). Scintigraphy of 23 preoperative and 12 postoperative patients and sialometry of 24 preoperative and 12 postoperative patients indicated severe preoperative impairment and postoperative improvement of gland function. Postoperatively, although no relevant differences in saliva flow rate were found between the 2 sides, scintigraphy showed lower function of the affected gland compared with the control side. Statistical data showed positive correlations among the 3 methods. Sialography intuitively reflected the ductal shape, whereas sialometry and scintigraphy were more sensitive for evaluating gland function.
CONCLUSIONS: For patients with parotid stones, minimally invasive endoscopic surgery and meticulous postoperative manipulations help preserve the glands and facilitate recovery of gland function. The 3 evaluating modalities have certain positive correlations.

This study sought to compare surgical outcomes after the removal of submandibular gland (SMG) stones via 2 different surgical methods.
From June 2015 to July 2016, a total of 40 patients with SMG stones were selected from the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Stomatology, China Medical University (Shenyang, China), and were randomly assigned to 2 groups. Twenty patients underwent sialendoscopy-assisted stone removal via extraoral incision with preservation of the SMG, and 20 patients underwent traditional SMG resection. The outcomes of the 2 surgical procedures were assessed.
The operation time and hospital stay were shorter in the SMG preservation group than the SMG resection group. There were no significant differences in stone size or location between the groups. The mean visual analog scale (VAS) score was lower in the SMG preservation group than the SMG resection group. All patients in the SMG resection group exhibited varying degrees of scarring and concave deformity on the face and neck, whereas all patients in the SMG preservation group retained intact facial morphology.
Sialendoscopy-assisted stone removal with preservation of the SMG exhibited many advantages relative to traditional SMG resection.