Detection of salivary stone in Wharton’s duct using transoral ultrasonography

Abstract

Introduction: Ultrasonography is a non-invasive method for the diagnosis of sialolithiasis. However, salivary stones in Wharton’s duct are usually too small to detect with ultrasonography. In this study, we examined the potential usefulness of transoral ultrasonography to detect salivary duct stones.
Methods: Transoral ultrasonography examination was performed on patients diagnosed with submandibular gland sialolithiasis.
Results: The hockey-stick probe enabled us to detect salivary stones transorally. The transoral sonography could detect salivary stones well, especially when the stones were located in the middle of Wharton’s duct. In two cases, transoral ultrasonography helped us to detect salivary stones in Wharton’s duct during operation.
Conclusion: For submandibular gland sialolithiasis, transoral ultrasonography with the hockey-stick probe was useful to identify salivary stones in Wharton’s duct.