REMOVAL OF A STONE IN STENSENS DUCT WITH ENDOSCOPIC LASER LITHOTRIPSY - REPORT OF CASE

Gland ablation is often necessary in cases of obstructive sialolithiasis when the calculus cannot be extracted by dilatation or dissection of the salivary duct.1 The use of lithotripsy provides another method of treatment. Initial experimental study on the use of extracorporeal lithotripsy was done using electrohydraulic Dornier HM3 equipment (Germering, Germany).2 Brouns et al also described the satisfactory fragmentation of salivary calculi, although they pointed out the possibility of destroying dental amalgam restorations.3 Iro et al indicated the danger of lesions to the ear or the central nervous system.4 Extracorporeal salivary lithotripsy has been successfully done with piezoelectric lithotriptors. However, the results obtained by this technique have not been as satisfactory as might have been expected. Between 40% and 50% of residual lithiasis remains after 3 to 4 months of treatment.1,4-8. A first description of laser lithotripsy for submandibular gland lithiasis was made by Köningsberger et al.9 Later, Gundlach et al reported an in vitro study and clinical application in 11 cases of submandibular lithiasis.10. We describe a case of endoscopically controlled laser lithotripsy for removal of a stone in Stensen's duct. © 1994.