Planimetric correlation between the submandibular glands and the pancreas: a postmortem ductographic study.
The salivary glands and pancreas have comparable anatomic and antigenic properties and can share common pathogenetic mechanisms involving toxic or autoimmune processes. The aim of this study is to assess the correlation in size between the normal submandibular glands and the pancreas. The study was based on human autopsy specimens of the pancreas, neck and oral base from 22 adults, both sexes (mean age, 57.9 years). The pancreatic and submandibular ducts were injected with a contrast medium, and the area of the salivary and pancreatic glandular ductograms was measured with the aid of software for quantification of visual information. Samples of tissue from the salivary glands and the pancreas were studied by means of light microscopy. A high correlation was found between the planimetric size of the pancreas and the submandibular glands (correlation coefficient 0.497 and 0.699 for the right and the left gland, respectively). This ratio was close to 5:1. There were no significant differences in size for the left vs. right submandibular gland (p = 0.39). The ductograms were significantly larger in size in males than in females (p < 0.001). This study has proven a positive correlation in planimetric size between the normal submandibular glands and pancreas, a result that is expected to have possible clinical implications in the long-term follow-up of patients with chronic pancreatitis.
Anatomy Sector, Department of Cellular Physiology and Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Rue Michel-Servet 1, 1211, Geneva, Switzerland. bojan.stimec@unige.ch.
Bojan V
BV
Stimec
Department of Radiology, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Belgrade, Rankeova 6, 11000, Belgrade, Serbia.
Zoran
Z
Rakocevic
Department of Digestive Surgery, Akershus University Hospital, University of Oslo, Sykehusveien 25, 1478, Lørenskog, Norway.
Dejan
D
Ignjatovic
Anatomy Sector, Department of Cellular Physiology and Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Rue Michel-Servet 1, 1211, Geneva, Switzerland.
Jean H D
JHD
Fasel
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001344:Autopsy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008853:Microscopy; D008875:Middle Aged; D009929:Organ Size; D010179:Pancreas / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010183:Pancreatic Ducts / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D013363:Submandibular Gland / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000648:ultrastructure
Ductogram; Organ size; Pancreas; Planimetry; Submandibular gland