New insights in the vascular supply of the human parotid gland - consequences for parotid gland-sparing irradiation.
BACKGROUND
Xerostomia is caused by irradiation for head and neck cancer, depending on the dose to the parotid gland. To investigate which part of the parotid gland has to be spared with radiotherapy, detailed information about the vascular supply of the parotid gland is necessary.


METHODS
Arterial vessels of the head of a human cadaver were colored. A 3-dimensional reconstruction of the parotid gland and the arterial vessels was made and analyzed.


RESULTS
Five arterial vessels were responsible for the vascular supply of the parotid gland: the posterior auricular artery, 2 branches so far unnamed, the superficial temporal artery, and the transverse facial artery. All arteries were branches off the external carotid artery, and supplied different parts of the parotid gland.


CONCLUSIONS
This study describes the detailed vascular supply of the human parotid gland. These results may contribute to improve parotid sparing radiotherapy, thus reducing complications such as xerostomia in the future.
Department of Radiotherapy, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Marjolein J
MJ
van Holten
Judith M
JM
Roesink
Chris H J
CH
Terhaard
Pètra M
PM
Braam
D002102:Cadaver; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004210:Dissection; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D010306:Parotid Gland / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000601:surgery; D012307:Risk Factors; D014987:Xerostomia / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control