Submandibular salivary calculi in an unusual form, and a developing technique for surgical removal

ABSTRACT

The chemical composition of the stones was 75% calcium phosphate, 13% calcium carbonate 6% calcium oxalate, 3% sodium chloride and 3% sodium thiocyanate. The patients were periodically seen for assessing the condition of the submandibular gland of the operation side usually in those cases as the gland gets chronically inflamed due to the partial obstruction, the change in the gland is reversible and the gland recovers after removal of the cause. Postoperative sialography was contra- indicated in these cases for a period from 3-6 months to avoid perforation of the operated duct during the infection of the die. In these cases all the glands were recovered with no swellings or pain and the flow of saliva was normal after the operation and there was no need for making sialogram for any of these cases and this is due to the shape of the calculus which was rod shape making only partial obstruction to the secretion of the gland with no severe retention of the saliva hence the glands were not seriously affected