Etiologic Factors in Sialolithiasis
No sponsorships or competing interests have been disclosed for this article.
Presented at the Combined Sections Meeting of the Triological Society; January 27-29, 2011; Scottsdale, Arizona.
Abstract
Objectives
The purpose of this study was to investigate etiologic factors for sialolithiasis in a population of patients from the United States.
Study Design
Retrospective, cohort study.
Setting
Tertiary university.
Materials and Methods
Charts for all patients diagnosed with sialolithiasis between January 2001 and February 2010 were retrospectively reviewed. Demographic factors, smoking history, comorbid medical conditions, and medication history were recorded. Statistical analyses were then performed on the collected data. Population prevalences of smoking, diuretic usage, cholelithiasis, and nephrolithiasis were obtained through literature review.
Results
A total of 153 patients with sialolithiasis were identified. Of these patients, 125 (82%) had submandibular sialolithiasis, and 28 (18%) had parotid sialolithiasis. Positive smoking histories were present in 67 individuals (44%). Both the current rate of smoking and the rate of a history of smoking were higher in our cohort when compared with the general population, although the differences did not reach statistical significance. Smoking history did not correlate with the size of the primary sialolith. Diuretic usage in the cohort was observed at a rate of 20%, higher than reported population rates of diuretic use of 8.7%. The prevalences of cholelithiasis and nephrolithiasis were not different from observed population rates.
Conclusions
Sialolithiasis is an uncommon condition of unclear etiology. This study represents an initial attempt to quantify the prevalence of smoking and diuretic therapy in a population of patients with sialolithiasis.
