Patient Information
Patients with salivary gland stones, salivary gland cancer, or stenosis may experience swelling in front of their ears or below their jaw bones which can create difficulty for every day activities such as eating. When patients first arrive to the UPMC Salivary Gland Stone and Infection Center they will be given a clinical evaluation in order to look at the glands and their openings into the mouth. An inspection for growths, cancer, or stones can be undertaken at that time. Imaging, including ultrasound, MRI, and CT scanning, may also be needed to form a proper diagnosis. Please bring all health insurance information to the first visit.
If surgery is needed the doctor will then work with the patient to set a time and date for the surgery. Surgeries are performed in the operating room under sedation (twilight) or general anesthesia. Depending on the surgery, patients are typically discharged on the same day and generally return to work the next day.
The most common and preferred procedure performed at UPMC’s Salivary Gland Stone and Infection Center is the salivary endoscopy. The salivary endoscopy is a procedure that is done by dilating the small openings in the mouth and salivary glands and then viewing the stones using a small telescope. Using this telescope allows for a quicker and less invasive procedure to remove salivary gland stones. Sometimes, if the stone is large, the doctor is required to make a small incision to create a larger opening to remove the stone.
Like any surgery, there are possible complications that can occur from salivary endoscopy. Though the risk is low, it is important to be aware of the following possible complications:
- failure to retrieve the stone
- need for an external (classic) salivary gland procedure
- perforation of the duct with infection
- swelling
- bleeding
Related ear, nose, and throat links: