[Measurement of the weight and volume of submandibular gland in vitro].

OBJECTIVE: To measure the weight and volume of normal submandibular gland by in vitro detection of glandular body, to compare with the measurement values of CT volume rendering to evaluate the consistency of the two methods, and to explore the related factors affecting the weight and volume of the submandibular gland. METHODS: The patients who underwent neck dissection due to oral cancer and were confirmed with normal submandibular gland by postoperative histopathology in Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology from May 2019 to January 2020 were collected in this study and divi-ded into 4 groups according to the age standards raised by the Society of Geriatrics Chinese Medical Association and WHO (2000) age standards. The submandibular gland was carefully dissected along with the capsule immediately after neck dissection. The weight and volume of submandibular gland were accurately measured by an integrated aseptic measuring device. The volume of submandibular gland was measured by CT volume rendering before operation and the consistency of the two methods was evaluated. The 95% confidence interval of the weight and volume of submandibular gland in the different groups of Chinese people, which were divided by gender and age, were calculated, and the correlation with age, gender, height, weight, body mass index (BMI) and other factors was analyzed. RESULTS: The weight and vo-lume of submandibular gland were measured in 220 subjects. The average weight and volume of submandibular gland were (11.69±2.45) g and (11.55±2.41) cm3 respectively. The volume of submandibular gland measured by CT volume rendering ranged from 70% to 82% of that measured by in vitro detection of glandular body, and the correlation coefficient between the two methods was 0.976 (P < 0.05). The gender difference of weight and volume of submandibular gland existed in the groups of youth, middle-aged, young elderly and elderly groups, the values of males were obviously higher than those of females (P < 0.05). There was no gender difference of weight and volume of submandibular gland in the adolescent group (P > 0.05). The weight and volume of submandibular gland had a strong positive correlation with body height (P < 0.05), a weak positive correlation with body weight (P < 0.05), and no correlation with BMI (P > 0.05). The female's weight and volume of submandibular gland in the young elderly and elderly groups were significantly lower than those in the other three groups (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The normal reference range of the weight and volume of submandibular gland in vitro were established in different age and gender groups of Chinese people. The volume of submandibular gland mea-sured by CT volume rendering was 70%-82% of that measured by in vitro detection of glandular body. The results of the two methods had a high degree of consistency. The weight and volume of submandibular gland were related to age, gender, body height and body weight.