OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical effects of endoscopy-assisted sialolithectomy for the calculus in the Stensen's duct.

METHODSFrom August 2005 to July 2013, 67 consecutive patients with calculus (or foreign bodies) in the Stensen's duct underwent explorative and interventional endoscopy in our hospital. The stones (or foreign bodies) were removed by endoscopy-assisted technique. After operation, the patients were followed-up periodically, and treatment effects were analyzed.

RESULTSAmong the 67 patients, the stones (or foreign bodies) were completely removed in 58 cases, and almost completely removed in 3 cases, with a success rate of 87% (58/67). Among the 61 stone-removed cases, treatment options included direct removal with aid of basket or forceps (24 cases), basket entrapment and opening-up of the ostium (21 cases), basket entrapment and mucosal incision near the ostium (8 cases), open removal via buccal incision (2 cases) and open removal via pre-auricular flap (6 cases). During the 6-90 months' follow-up of the 61 cases, 48 cases were asymptomatic, 7 had mild symptoms, 3 developed ductal obturation, 1 had numbness in the parotid region, and the remaining 2 were missed.

CONCLUSIONSEndoscopy-assisted sialolithectomy is a safe and effective gland-preservation technique for the patients with parotid gland calculus.