MR imaging of the lacrimal gland. Age-related and gender-dependent changes in size and structure.
OBJECTIVE
The subject of this study was to define age-related and gender-dependent changes in MR features of the lacrimal gland.


METHODS
MR images were retrospectively analyzed in 104 normal subjects aged 2-79 years to measure thickness and area of the lacrimal gland, its MR signal intensity ratio, and SD of the MR signal intensity profile.


RESULTS
Thickness and area of the lacrimal gland decreased with age in women (p < 0.001), but not in men. Furthermore, MR signal intensity ratio of the lacrimal gland showed an age-related increase in women (p < 0.001), but not in men. On the other hand, SD of the MR signal intensity increased with age in both women and men (p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
These findings demonstrate that gender has a significant influence on lacrimal gland structure during development and aging.
Department of Radiology, Nagasaki University School of Dentistry, Japan.
H
H
Ueno
E
E
Ariji
M
M
Izumi
M
M
Uetani
K
K
Hayashi
T
T
Nakamura
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007765:Lacrimal Apparatus / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000254:growth & development; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values; D012727:Sex Characteristics