Purpose: This research examines various parameters based on CT imaging, which may assist in predicting the successful endoscopic removal of whole stones from the submandibular salivary gland area.
Materials and Methods: A retrospective study of patients who underwent cervical CT or CT sialography of the submandibular gland salivary tracts, between January 2014 to May 2016 in the Golda HaSharon Campus, Rabin Medical Center. Of the 168 patients who performed this CT scan, only patients with stone disease deep within the submandibular gland or around it were included. We identified 26 cases of sialolithiasis treated with sialendoscopy under general anesthesia during the research period, and underwent post-procedure follow up at one month. The research group included 7 females (26.92%) and 19 males (73.08%). The mean age of the subjects was 50.9 years, range 18 to 77 years.
Results: In 15 patients (57.7%) the stone or stones were removed in whole. In 11 of the remaining cases (42.3%) the stone remained in its place or was partially removed. Of the parameters examined, only the horizontal distance between the stone and the reference point in the mandible bone statistically significantly predicted success of endoscopic removal. For the other parameters examined including number of stones, anatomical position of the stone, its size and its depth in relation to the mandible bone, there was no statistical significance in the ability to predict successful removal of the stones.
Conclusions: When the horizontal distance of the stone from the mandible bone measures less than 14.25 mm, successful endoscopic removal of the stone in whole is highly likely.
