Sialolithectomy done with a CO2 laser: clinical and scintigraphic results.
OBJECTIVE
This study reviews the results of sialolithectomy performed with the CO2 laser.


METHODS
Forty-nine patients were treated under local anesthesia at initial presentation in the outpatient clinic.


RESULTS
All patients had immediate relief after surgery. Clinical and scintographic follow-up of up to 28 months on 27 patients showed that all but 1 were asymptomatic. The single exception required excision of the submandibular gland because of two recurrences of sialoliths in Wharton's duct. Although some glands had no function clinically and scintigraphically, they were asymptomatic and needed no further treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Salivary glands that are nonfunctioning clinically and scintigraphically should only be removed when there is a recurrence of symptoms.
Azaz
B
B
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Hebrew University-Hadassah School of Dental Medicine, Jerusalem, Israel.
Regev
E
E
Casap
N
N
Chicin
R
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000556:Ambulatory Surgical Procedures; D000772:Anesthesia, Local; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010305:Parotid Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D010306:Parotid Gland / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D012008:Recurrence; D012465:Salivary Duct Calculi / Q000601:surgery; D015494:Salivary Gland Calculi / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013670:Sodium Pertechnetate Tc 99m; D013363:Submandibular Gland / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism; D013364:Submandibular Gland Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery
D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D013670:Sodium Pertechnetate Tc 99m