Transoral removal of hiloparenchymal submandibular calculi: a long-term clinical experience

Traditional management of hiloparenchymal submandibular calculi is based on sialadenectomy. Recently, different minimally invasive and conservative techniques have been developed for the treatment of the submandibular calculi. We aimed to investigate the effectiveness of transoral surgical removal of large hiloparenchymal calculi by monitoring the trend for recurrence with clinical and ultrasonographic follow-up. A consecutive series of 84 patients with large (>7 mm) hilar or hiloparenchymal submandibular calculi underwent the transoral surgical removal under general anaesthesia. A video-assisted endoscopic procedure was performed in eight patients. All the patients underwent diagnostic ultrasonography and colour Doppler ultrasonography and clinical evaluation to define the exact location (hilar vs. parenchymal) and the diameter of the stone. The surgical procedure was successful in all but one of the patients. Stone recurrence was observed in 16 patients but obstructive symptoms were observed in only 12 patients during a median follow-up time of 52 months. The risk for recurrence was higher in patients who previously underwent extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy. Conservative transoral removal of large hiloparenchymal submandibular calculi is a safe and effective surgical procedure. Future studies with longer follow-up will confirm the risk for recurrence of calculi.