EXTRACORPOREAL PIEZOELECTRIC SHOCK-WAVE LITHOTRIPSY OF PAROTID STONES- LONG-TERM RESULTS

Objective: To evaluate prospectively the recently developed method of extracorporeal shock-wave treatment of stones of the parotid gland. Pa tients and methods: 76 patients with symptomatic, sonographically prov en, 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 i n 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 pa tients (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 l ithotripsy was independent of size and site of the stone. Conclusion: ESWL is the method of first choice in the treatment of parotid gland s tones after unsuccessful conservative treatment and obviates operative gland removal in most cases.