J Korean Acad Oral Maxillofac Radiol.
1999 Aug;29(2):451-458.
Age-dependent difference in the computed tomography numbers of the normal parotid gland of Koreans
- Affiliations
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- 1Department of Dental Radiology, College of Dentistry, Yonsei University, Korea.
Abstract
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PURPOSE: To determine normal CT number range of parotid gland by analyzing the change by age increase and the difference among individuals and between both sexes in CT number of normal parotid gland.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
134 subjects who took the CT scan between the period of Jan. 1996 and Dec. 1997 at Yonsei University, Dental Hospital were selected. Criteria for selection were that the patients must be within the normal range clinically and radiologically, and the entire parotid gland on the axial view must be shown. Among the axial views, the one showing the greatest parotid gland size was selected and its CT number was recorded. Also, CT numbers from both masseter muscle were recorded as its control.
RESULTS
There was statistically significant correlation between CT number of right and left of parotid glands and masseter muscles. With the increase of age, there is a significant decrease in the CT number of parotid gland (p<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in CT number between sexes except the 7th decade and beyond age group of parotid gland (p>0.05).
CONCLUSION
As age increases, CT number of parotid gland has a tendency to decrease, and there is no significant difference in the CT numbers between left and right parotid gland. Therefore in the CT scan of patients suspected of having an salivary gland disease of the parotid gland, to consider normal range of the age-dependent CT numbers of parotid gland and compare the CT numbers of the right and left parotid gland might be useful in diagnosing the disease.
