Summary
Salivary stones are rather rare compared to kidney and gallstones. They occur when saliva is thickened due to insufficient fluid intake or when crystallisation nuclei have formed which are not flushed out and gradually increase in size. The diagnosis is made by palpation, x-ray or ultrasound.
In the best case, the therapy consists of massaging or crushing with ultrasound. In the case of very large stones or unfavorable location, the removal of the gland by surgery is the method of choice. The prognosis is good, as the remaining salivary glands produce sufficient saliva.
