title: Fragmentation of salivary stones with a 980nm diode laser.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Intraductal laser lithotripsy is a preferred method to fragment large, immobile intraglandular salivary stones. A number of different laser systems has been investigated for this purpose. It was our aim to study the effectiveness of a 980nm diode laser when fragmenting salivary stones in an experimental set up.
  
  
  METHODS
  In an experimental set up we used a 980nm diode laser for the lithotripsy of 9 salivary stones. The temperature circle around the laser fibre tip was measured and stone remnants were chemically analysed for their composition.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The salivary stones had a mean diameter of 6.7mm×5.6mm×3.0mm. Laser fragmentation with the diode laser was successful at all stones. The temperature next to the salivary stone increased to around 30°C during the active lithotripsy with continuous rinsing (fluid temperature 21°C). At a distance of 2mm the temperature around the laser fibre's tip is reduced by already about 50%. The salivary stones mainly consisted of carbonate apatite, followed by β-calcium phosphate and other calcium phosphates.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The fragmentation of salivary stones with a 980nm diode laser is possible in principle. Under a continuous irrigation with a positioning of the laser fibre's tip at the centre of the stone, no relevant temperature increase in the vicinity of the stone occurs. However, before the laser is used in humans, in vivo experiments on animal material seem to be advisable.
authors.affiliation: University of Cologne, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Germany. Electronic address: jan-christoffer.lueers@uk-koeln.de.
authors.forename: Jan Christoffer
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Luers
authors.affiliation: University of Cologne, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Germany.
authors.forename: Jan Niklas
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Petry-Schmelzer
authors.affiliation: University of Cologne, Institute for Clinical Chemistry, Germany.
authors.forename: Wolfgang G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Hein
authors.affiliation: University of Cologne, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Germany.
authors.forename: Antoniu-Oreste
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Gostian
authors.affiliation: University of Cologne, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Germany.
authors.forename: Karl-Bernd
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Hüttenbrink
authors.affiliation: University of Cologne, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Germany.
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Beutner
mesh_terms: D001031:Apatites; D002129:Calcium Oxalate; D002130:Calcium Phosphates; D015331:Cohort Studies; D006801:Humans; D054023:Lasers, Semiconductor; D017602:Lithotripsy, Laser / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020792:Salivary Calculi / Q000737:chemistry / Q000628:therapy*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D001031:Apatites; D002130:Calcium Phosphates; D002129:Calcium Oxalate; C030782:carboapatite; C020243:calcium phosphate
keywords: Diode laser; Fragmentation; Lithotripsy; Salivary stones; Sialolithiasis