title: Sialendoscopy for sialolithiasis: early treatment, better outcome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The objective of this study was to investigate whether patients with a short-term and long-term disease course of sialolithiasis show differences in the clinical picture and the outcome after sialendoscopy.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively analyzed the findings and clinical courses of 62 consecutive patients who received sialendoscopy for sialolithiasis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 30 patients stones could be removed by pure endoscopic means. Stone size and stone mobility were significant predictors and the duration of symptoms was a marginally significant predictor for the endoscopic removability of stones. Patients with a good outcome had a significant shorter duration of symptoms than patients with a worse outcome.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of our study indicate an association between the duration of symptoms and the outcome after sialendoscopy for sialolithiasis. Early sialendoscopic treatment indicates a favorable outcome and is recommended for sialolithiasis after failure of conservative treatment.
authors.affiliation: University of Cologne, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery. jan-christoffer.lueers@uk-koeln.de
authors.forename: Jan Christoffer
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Luers
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grosheva
authors.forename: Valentin
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Reifferscheid
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stenner
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Beutner
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D016017:Odds Ratio; D018579:Patient Selection; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D015494:Salivary Gland Calculi / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult