Establishing correlations between normal pancreatic and submandibular gland ducts

Abstract

Background The objectives of this study were to evaluate the relationship between ductal morphometry and ramification patterns in the submandibular gland and pancreas in order to validate their common fractal dimension. Methods X-ray ductography with software-aided morphometry were obtained by injecting barium sulphate in the ducts of post-mortem submandibular gland and pancreas specimens harvested from 42 adult individuals. Results Three cases were excluded from the study because of underlying pathology. There was a significant correlation between the length of the main pancreatic duct (MPD) and the intraglandular portion of the right submandibular duct (SMD) (r = 0.3616; p = 0.028), and left SMD (r = 0.595; p < 0.01), respectively, but their maximal diameters did not correlate (r = 0.139—0.311; p > 0.05). Both dimensions of the SMD showed a significant right-left correlation (p < 0.05). The number of MPD side branches (mean = 37) correlated with the number of side branches of left SMD, but not with the right one (mean = 9). Tortuosity was observed in 54% of the MPD, 32% of the right SMD, and 24% of the left SMD, with mutual association only between the two salivary glands. Conclusions Although the length of intraglandular SMD and MPD correlate, other morphometric ductal features do not, thus suggesting a more complex relationship between the two digestive glands.

Left–Right Multimodal Morphometric Comparison of Human Submandibular Glands

“…Fractal properties [19] The first item analyzed was the length of Wharton's duct, defined intraglandularly as the largest canal extending from the pole of the gland to the extraglandular portion of the duct. The average total duct lengths were 63.8 ± 10.2 mm and 61.8 ± 8.9 mm for the right and left glands, respectively.…”

Fractal nature of human gastrointestinal system: Exploring a new era

“…Recently, researchers investigated the relationship between ductal morphometry and ramification patterns in the submandibular gland and pancreas to confirm their shared fractal dimension[ 62 ]. The study found that while the length of the intraglandular submandibular duct and the main pancreatic duct were correlated, other morphometric features of the ducts were not.…”

“…A computer-aided morphometric method employing fractal geometry and Delaunay triangulation was introduced to quantify the necro-inflammatory phase in liver biopsy specimens. The method was applied to two-micrometer thick sections from 78 chronic hepatitis C virus-infected patients, immunohistochemically treated to identify inflammatory cells[ 62 ]. An automatic image analysis system was used to define the inflammatory cell network based on Delaunay triangulation, and the cells were categorized geometrically into clusters or irregular distributions within the tissue.…”

Salivary gland and pancreas – Gross anatomy, as well

“…We have carried out a comparative study of the size of the human submandibular glands and pancreas, by the use of computer-aided planimetry of matched postmortem ductograms, revealing a strong correlation between both submandibular glands and pancreas, and no significant differences in size of the left vs. right submandibular gland (Stimec et al, 2018). Further, instigated by the fractal dimensions of the pancreatic and salivary glands, we undertook a correlative study on their ductal morphology and morphometry, including maximal caliber and length of the main duct, number of primary side branches/affluents and presence of eventual ductal tortuosities (Stimec et al, 2022). Significant correlations were found for length of the main duct and partly for the side branches.…”