The Normal Variation of the Parotid Size

Abstract

The individual variation of the parotid size was studied by sialography on 92 healthy subjects of both sexes at an age of 26 to 64 years. It was shown that the variation between the individuals in the size of the parotid glands was very large and that the distribution of the values was approximately normal. In diagrams are shown the upper and lower limit for the size of the parotids according to the 2-sigma rule. The correlation between the extension of the gland in sagittal and frontal planes was studied, likewise the correlation in size between the right and left sides. The high correlation between right and left sides showed that a sure difference in size between the right and left glands should be regarded as abnormal. The connection between some basic variables and the size of the parotid glands was also studied. There was a weak but significant correlation between sex, body-weight, year of life, gynecological state and the glandular size.