The Importance of Sialography for the Determination of the Parotid Flow: The Normal Variation in Salivary Output in Relation to the Size of the Gland at Stimulation with Citric Acid

Abstract

The relation between the size of the parotid gland and the output of saliva has been studied in 92 healthy individuals of both sexes and of various ages. The size of the gland has been determined on sialograms and the relation between the gland-size and the secretion stimulated with different citric-acid solutions has been studied with regression analysis. A formula for the predicted secretion with varying sizes of the parotid gland has been set up and the relation has been graphically illustrated. The study has shown that the secretory rate of the parotid gland should be related to the size of the gland when there is a matter of assessing the function of the parotid glands and that a sialographic investigation of the parotid may be taken as a basis for a prediction of the normal secretion range of a gland. The clinical value of the sialometric method as a diagnostic aid in the investigation of diseases of the salivary gland has in this way been considerably increased.