Salivary stones: innovative techniques in diagnosis and treatment.

During the last decade, minimally invasive and nonsurgical techniques of diagnosing and treating salivary gland duct stones have rapidly evolved. Physicians have developed alternative treatments beyond the sole use of invasive conventional surgery. Techniques and equipment have been specifically developed to deal with ductal lithiasis. Salivary duct endoscopy, endoscopic instrumentation, and intra- or extracorporeal lithotripsy have proven themselves to be efficacious in most cases involving ductal stones. Current algorithms for treatment combine conventional surgical, minimally invasive, and nonsurgical strategies to produce the least invasive and best-tolerated outcomes for each individual patient.