Crystalloid architecture of a sialolith in a minor salivary gland

A sialolith from a minor salivary gland of the mucosa of the upper lip was studied morphologically and analytically. Under stereoscopic microscopic vi sualisation, no core or any concentric laminar structure was found in the s ialolith and it had a transparent glassy appearance. Scanning electron micr oscopy revealed differences between the internal structure of the sialolith and its external structure. No microbes were observed but some mineralized inclusion bodies were seen. X-ray diffraction indicated the absence of ino rganic crystals in the sialolith, while energy dispersive x-ray microanalys is revealed a high content of S followed by Ca, Si and Na and little and sc arce P on the fracture surface, with S, Na, Ca and P being distributed thro ughout the external coating of the sialolith. The results suggest that the sialolith was young and consisted of a crystalloid body with an incipient c oating undergoing calcification.