Sialolithiasis classification

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Mahda Alihashemi M.D. [2]

Overview

There is no established system for the classification of sialolithiasis, but it may be classified according to the location of the stone, submandibular glands, parotid glands, and sublinguals or minor salivary glands ; or radiographic charachteristics: radiopaque, or radiolucent.

There is no established system for the classification of sialolithiasis, but sialolithiasis may be classified according to location of the stone.^[1]

Gland	Percent of stones
Submandibular glands	80 to 90
Parotid glands	6 to 20
Sublinguals or minor salivary glands	1 to 2

Submandibular stones can be classified further as anterior or posterior in relation to the mandibular first molar teeth.
Stones may be radiopaque, where they be visible on radiographs or radiolucent where they will not show up on radiography
Stones may also be symptomatic or asymptomatic.

↑ Capaccio P, Torretta S, Ottavian F, Sambataro G, Pignataro L (2007). “Modern management of obstructive salivary diseases”. Acta Otorhinolaryngol Ital. 27 (4): 161–72. PMC 2640028. PMID 17957846.