title: A meta-analysis of the efficacy and safety of managing parotid and submandibular sialoliths using sialendoscopy assisted surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To review the available techniques and procedures for management of parotid and submandibular sialoliths with special emphasis on the efficacy and safety of the most commonly used combination of techniques; namely, sialendoscopy with conservative surgical removal of the stone.
  
  
  METHODS
  A systematic search of the English literature using MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane library databases were conducted at the Faculty of Dentistry, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Articles between the years 2004 and 2013 were selected on the basis of preset inclusion criteria. Then, they were reviewed against a checklist to assess the evidence of efficacy of therapy or prevention and analyzed for pertinent data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eleven articles met the inclusion criteria and were reviewed and analyzed. The success rate of sialendoscopy combined with minor surgical removal of parotid and submandibular sialoliths ranges from 69-100%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sialendoscopy combined with a minor surgical extraction of parotid and submandibular sialoliths is safe and efficacious.
authors.affiliation: Diagnostic Department, Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Faculty of Dentistry, King Abdulaziz University, PO Box 80200, Jeddah 21589, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Tel. +966 (12) 5400000. Fax. +966 (12) 6952437. E-mail. fjadu@kau.edu.sa.
authors.forename: Fatima M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Jadu
authors.forename: Ahmed M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Jan
mesh_terms: D004724:Endoscopy; D006801:Humans; D010305:Parotid Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012465:Salivary Duct Calculi / Q000601:surgery*; D015494:Salivary Gland Calculi / Q000601:surgery*; D013364:Submandibular Gland Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome