title: Factors influencing intraoral removal of submandibular calculi.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the effectiveness of intraoral removal of submandibular calculi based on several factors that may influence the results of surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively reviewed 172 patients who underwent intraoral removal of submandibular sialolithiasis. Results of surgery were divided into complete removal, partial removal, and failure. The effect of location, palpability, size, and presence of infection of the calculi on the results was estimated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Univariate analysis showed that palpability and presence of infection were statistically significant factors affecting intraoral removal. Palpability was the only significant factor after multivariate analysis. Twelve of 13 patients with recurrent calculi underwent repeat intraoral removal successfully.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The palpability of submandibular calculi is the most important factor influencing their successful intraoral removal.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intraoral removal can be performed successfully regardless of location, size, presence of infection, or recurrence of calculi, if the calculi are palpable.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, Daegu, South Korea.
authors.forename: June Sik
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Jin Ho
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Sohn
authors.forename: Jeong Kyu
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010173:Palpation; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015494:Salivary Gland Calculi / Q000601:surgery*; D013363:Submandibular Gland; D016896:Treatment Outcome