An estimated cost of hospital treatment for symptomatic sialodenitis and sialolithiasis

Key Points

• The incidence of symptomatic salivary calculi requiring hospital admission treatment is at least 27 per million population per annum and may be as high as 59 per million population per annum.

• The majority of such patients are treated as in-patients while the total cost to the National Health Service is up to £4,000,000 per annum.

• Minimally invasive techniques as well as having a much lower morbidity are able to provide treatment on an out-patient basis. Based on the data presented here there would appear to be compelling evidence to support developments in this field.

Abstract

Objective To establish the annual incidence, and cost of treating, symptomatic salivary stones and sialoadenitis.

Materials and methods Data relating to sialolithiasis and sialoadenitis were obtained from the Department of Health with respect to the 15 health regions in England during the period 1991–1995. These were analysed to obtain the mean incidence per annum. The proportions of each condition treated on an in-patient and out-patient basis were also calculated. A survey of hospital fees was undertaken to determine the national cost for treating these two conditions.

Results In the period the mean incidence of hospital admission for symptomatic sialoadenitis and sialolithiasis in the 15 health regions in England was 27.5 (19–46) and 31.5 (26–37) per million population per annum respectively. During this time there was a slight shift toward day case treatment.

Conclusions Based on hospital admission data for the period 1991–1995 the mean incidence of symptomatic sialolithiasis is relatively low, being at least 27 per million population per annum and possibly as much as 59 per million population per annum. This represents a cost to the National Health Service of up to £4,000,000 per annum.

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