Rajkot: A doctor in Rajkot removed 10 salivary stones from the left submandibular duct of an 18-year-old patient through the mouth, without making an external incision or leaving a visible scar.The patient had been experiencing pain beneath the tongue, particularly while eating, along with swelling below the left side of the jaw for about a month.“An ultrasonography examination revealed multiple stones in the left submandibular salivary system,” said Dr. Himanshu Thakkar, an ENT specialist. He subsequently removed all 10 stones lodged in the narrow Wharton’s duct through an intraoral procedure. The submandibular salivary gland was preserved.According to the doctor, Wharton’s duct, which carries saliva from the submandibular gland into the mouth, is approximately 5 cm long and has a relatively narrow diameter. Removing multiple stones from the duct while preserving the gland can be technically challenging.Salivary stones, medically known as sialoliths, form when mineral deposits in saliva accumulate and harden in a salivary gland or duct. They are more commonly found in the submandibular gland than in other salivary glands. “Usually, patients have a single stone, while multiple stones in the same duct are relatively uncommon. The case was unusual because such a presentation in an 18-year-old is also uncommon, as salivary stones are generally seen more often in adults, particularly those in middle age,” Dr. Thakkar added.The patient was discharged from the hospital the same evening and is reportedly recovering well.
