Eziopatogenesi e modalità di trattamento delle litiasi salivari sottomandibolari

Objectives. After a brief review of the causes, pathophysiology, and clinical presentation of sialolithiasis, the authors examine the main treatment protocols currently used to treat this condition. They also analyze their own experience in the surgical treatment of submandibular salivary calculi with an intraoral approach. Materials and methods. The authors treated 53 patients with salivary calculi (5 to 35 mm in diameter) located in the Wharton duct. Treatment consisted in enucleation of the calculi, with or without sialodochoplasty. Results. In all cases, normal submandibular gland function was restored. Conclusions. This study shows that surgery is still the most reliable approach for removing intraductal submandibular calculi. This approach provides predictable results and low morbidity that cannot be achieved with other techniques, such as lithotripsy, CO2 laser therapy, or operative fibroscopy.