Submandibular gland function following transoral sialolithectomy.

Conflicting views exist with regard to surgical treatment of a salivary stone in the knee of the submandibular duct, the options being excision of the submandibular gland and transoral removal of the stone. The key question in this dispute is whether or not a gland with a stone in this position has suffered irreparable functional damage. To determine the extent of glandular recovery after transoral sialolithectomy, a clinical and scintigraphic study has been carried out in a consecutive series of twenty-one patients. The results show a return to normal function in the vast majority of these patients, which indicates that transoral removal of the stone is the treatment of choice.