Abstract
Sialolithiasis is the most common disorder of major salivary glands with approximately 80% to 95% occurring in the submandibular gland and 5% to 20% in the parotid gland. Parotid stones are composed of organic substances such as cellular debris, muco-polysaccharides and glycoproteins, and inorganic substances, mainly phosphates and calcium carbonates. Conventional x-ray sialography combined with US is the method of choice for visualization of salivary gland calculi. Sialography and US are also inevitable in patient's qualification for diagnostic and therapeutic sialoendoscopy, thus avoiding sialadenectomy. An alternative, non-invasive diagnostic method is magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), MR sialography (MRS), or unenhanced computed tomography (CT). Therapeutic options include parotidectomy, external lithtripsy, and interventional sialoendoscopy.