Fractal Dimension Of Ct Images Of Normal Parotid Glands

Lee, Sang Jin; Heo, Min Suk; You, Dong Soo

Abstract

PURPOSE: This study was to investigate the age and sex differences of the fractal dimension of the normal parotid glands in the digitized CT images.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The six groups, which were composed of 42 men and women from 20`s, 40`s and 60`s and over were picked. Each group contained seven people of the same sex. The normal parotid CT images were digitized, and their fractal dimensions were calculated using Scion ImagePC program.
RESULTS
The mean of fractal dimensions in males was 1.7292(+/-0.0588) and 1.6329(+/-0.0425) in females. The mean of fractal dimensions in young males was 1.7617, 1.7328 in middle males, and 1.6933 in old males. The mean of fractal dimensions in young females was 1.6318, 1.6365 in middle females, and 1.6303 in old females. There was no statistical difference in fractal dimension between left and right parotid gland of the same subject(p>0.05). Fractal dimensions in male were decreased in older group(p<0.05) and larger than female in same age group(p<0.05). But fractal dimensions in female had a tendency to decrease in older group but no statistical difference between ages(p>0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
The fractal dimension of parotid glands in the digitized CT images will be useful to evaluate the age and sex differences.