Specialty Optical Fibers Handbook

not pass 50% in the best cases [49]. It is much less effective for stones of 7-mm

diameter. Interventional sialoendoscopy with a wire basket through a miniatur-

ized endoscope was also carried out in the 1990s [50]. It has good success for the

1- to 3-mm diameter stones, but most stones are 3–7 mm.

Endoscopic laser lithotripsy can potentially treat most cases of salivary gland

stones with minimal complications while preserving a functional salivary gland.

In urology, the holmium laser has become the gold standard for endoscopic

lithotripsy with delivery of the energy through highly reliable, low-OH silica

fibers with core diameters as small as 200 microns [51]. Some successful attempts

have been reported on the use of this laser for sialolithiasis, ...