Treatment of salivary stones by extracorporeal lithotripsy.

Purpose: This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of extracorporeal lithotripsy (ECL) in the treatment of salivary stones.

Patients And Methods: In a prospective study, an additional 15 patients suffering from sialolithiasis were treated by applying extracorporeally generated shock waves. No patients needed general anaesthesia, sedatives, or analgesics.

Results: Treatment was effective in 80% of the 15 patients in this series (5 total efficacy and 7 partial efficacy). Only minor complications were observed.

Conclusion: Lithotripsy is a promising nonsurgical therapy for the treatment of sialolithiasis.