Sialendoscopic removal of fish bone-induced sialoliths in the duct of the submandibular gland

Abstract Obstructive sialadenitis of the submandibular gland is commonly caused by sialoliths, but more rarely by foreign body-induced sialoliths. Here, we report minimally invasive sialendoscopic removal of fish bone-induced sialoliths in the duct of the submandibular gland. A 43-year-old woman presented with recurrent swelling of the right submandibular gland at other hospital. Computed tomography (CT) showed an 8-mm linear calcification in the posterior part of Wharton’s duct. The lesion was deemed difficult to remove and she was followed up. However, because the lesion did not resolve spontaneously within 9 months and chronic sialadenitis symptoms persisted, she was referred to our department for endoscopic removal. CT showed a linear calcification (5.6 × 1.2 × 0.8 mm) connecting 2 spherical calcifications (2.3 × 2.1 × 1.9 mm; 1.8 × 1.4 × 1.1 mm) in the anterior part of Wharton’s duct. The patient underwent endoscopic removal of the lesion using a 1.6-mm-diameter sialendoscope under local anesthesia. The specimen contained a fish bone connecting 2 sialoliths. The patient was unaware of the fish-bone injury. After removal, there was no recurrence of submandibular gland swelling during 6 months follow-up.