Considerations concerning volume and tumors of the parotid gland in MR imaging wihtin an epidemiological cohort (SHIP)

Background Currently, there are no standard values concerning the size or prevalence of solid tumors of the parotid gland which are based on representative epidemiologic cohort study including MR imaging. Also non-existent are objective correlations between gland size and widespread diseases like diabetes mellitus and hypertension.

Methods Within the SHIP cohort we examined the parotid gland in 1725 non-contrast, 1,5 T MRI- scans. We established a reliable standard operating procedure in which in T1- sequence of axial layers gland tissue was highlighted in each layer. Each solid parotid tumor was separately marked and outlined for volume.

Those results were discussed regarding sex, age, BMI and certain comorbidities like diabetes mellitus and hypertension.

ResultsN In this study we found an average, single sided parotid gland volume of 27.56 cm3 (±  8.23 SD) in the male and 20.99 cm3 (± 6.47 SD) in the female gland. The positive correlation between gland size and age, BMI, male sex and prevalence of diabetes mellitus was statistically significant. The prevalence of tumor within the parotid gland regardless of dignity is 3,94% in a Northeast German population.

Discussion This is the first epidemiological study to establish standard values of parotid gland sizes in MR imaging with possible adjustments to sex and age.

Significant correlations between gland size and systemic diseases might be the basis for histopathological studies, aiming at finding causal relations.

The prevalence of solid parotid gland tumors of 4% seems higher than assumed in existent clinical or histopathological studies.

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Artikel online veröffentlicht:
24. Mai 2022