[Long-term results of extracorporeal peizoelectric shock wave lithotripsy of parotid stones].

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate prospectively the recently developed method of extracorporeal shock-wave treatment of stones of the parotid gland.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

76 patients with symptomatic, sonographically proven, solitary stones of the parotid gland (36 females, 40 males; aged 2-80 years) were treated with extracorporeal piezoelectric shock-wave lithotripsy (ESWL) after failed conservative management (sialagogues, gland massage, duct bougie dilation).

RESULTS

Parotid stones were no longer demonstrable after a mean follow-up time of 48 (6-71) months in 38 of the 76 patients; they were symptom-free and no new stones had formed. A residual, but symptom-free, stone was found in another 20 patients (26%) of whom 13 (17%) reported marked improvement after ESWL. No change from pretreatment symptoms occurred in five patients (7%) so that operative removal had to be performed. The success rate of the lithotripsy was independent of size and site of the stone.

CONCLUSION

ESWL is the method of first choice in the treatment of parotid gland stones after unsuccessful conservative treatment and obviates operative gland removal in most cases.