New Study Confirms Safe, Effective Alternative to Surgery for Large Salivary Gland Stones

A new study from the University Hospital of Southern Denmark highlights the effectiveness of a minimally invasive technique for removing large salivary gland stones, offering patients a safe, gland-preserving alternative to traditional surgery.

Known as the “combined approach,” this method uses endoscopic guidance and targeted incisions to extract stones too large or impacted to be removed through standard sialendoscopy alone. The study, which analyzed five years of patient data, found that this technique successfully removed stones in 85% of cases and resolved symptoms in 88% of patients.

Among 243 patients diagnosed with sialolithiasis (salivary gland stones), 33 underwent the combined approach. Researchers reported no cases of permanent nerve damage, and most complications were minor or temporary. Postoperative infections were more common in procedures involving the parotid gland, prompting calls for clearer antibiotic guidelines in future protocols.

This study strengthens the case for the combined approach as a safe, effective, and less invasive treatment—especially for stones over 5 mm in size—avoiding the risks associated with full gland excision like nerve injury or Frey’s syndrome.

Still, the authors emphasize the need for prospective studies to standardize antibiotic use and refine definitions of infection and treatment success.