Sialolithiasis also called salivary gland stone or salivary gland calculus is the formation of calcified mass within the duct of a major or minor salivary gland .The calcified mass is called sailolith.

There are 3 major salivary glands

• Submandibular gland
• Parotid gland
• Sublingual gland

Of the 3 major salivary glands , submandibular gland is most affected by sialolith (83%)

Parotid gland (10%), and sublingual gland (7 % ).

Cause of formation of sialolith

Signs and symptoms of sialolithiasis

• Usually occurs in middle aged men
• Patient complains of pain. This pain is because the formation of calcified mass in the salivary duct  has obstructed the flow of saliva . Saliva keeps accumulating in that area and stagnates leading to a feeling of pain and pressure.
• The characteristic feature of sialolithiasis is that the patient complains of increased pain and swelling while having food  which subsides after meals. (flow of saliva generally increases during meals. In presence of a calcified mass or sialolith in the salivary duct the excess saliva that flows during meals is not able to flow freely. This leads to pain. However the sialolith does not obstruct the duct completely, so after meals the saliva slowlyseeps through the space available , thus reducing the pain and swelling.
• It might also be associated with fever and weakness.

Treatment

• If the sialolith is small then it can be manually removed by massaging the gland. This will help the sialolith in coming out of the gland.
• If the sialolith is present near the opening of the duct then an incision can be given directly over the area and the calculi can be removed.
• In case the gland is infected and patient has pus discharge  and ulceration , antibiotic course should be given.
• A procedure called lithotripsy where the sialolith or calcified stone is broken into fragments and then removed .