Sialolith Treatment — NDEB AFK MCQ
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Correct answer: A — Sialendoscopy (minimally invasive endoscopic retrieval) or surgical removal of the stone via an intraoral duct approach
The definitive treatment for submandibular sialolithiasis depends on stone size and location: (1) Small stones in the distal (anterior) duct may be managed with sialendoscopy (minimally invasive endoscopic retrieval), bimanual palpation/milking, or intraoral ductoplasty; (2) Larger stones or those in the proximal (posterior/hilar) duct may require intraoral surgical removal via a duct incision (sialodochoplasty); (3) Submandibulectomy (gland removal via extraoral approach) is reserved for recurrent sialolithiasis, intraglandular stones not accessible endoscopically, or glands with irreversible damage. Sialendoscopy has become increasingly popular as a gland-preserving, minimally invasive first-line approach.
Reference: Neville – Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, 4th ed., 2016