Morphological study of the parotid lymph nodes

Metastases to the parotid nodes: CT and MR imaging findings

“…Therefore, in this study, we provisionally defined the parotid lymph node to be clinically pathological when its maximal diameter exceeded 6 mm, based on a previous anatomic study that described the mean maximal diameter of normal parotid nodes as 3.7 mm (range, 2-6 mm) in the superficial lobe and 2.8 mm (range, 2-6 mm) in the deep lobe. 5 Although no occult metastases or false-positive nodes were found in our patients who underwent parotidectomy, further studies to determine the criteria for clinically pathological parotid nodes are needed. Previous radiologic literature has described a tendency for metastases to the parotid nodes to be multifocal.…”

“…Size was measured as the maximal diameter in the axial section and defined as pathological when it exceeded 6 mm, based on the morphological study of normal parotid lymph nodes. 5 The tumour location in the parotid gland was categorized into three areas: superficial lobe, deep lobe and parotid tail. The superficial lobe was defined as an area lateral to the retromandibular vein, the deep lobe was defined as an area medial to the retromandibular vein and the tail was defined as the inferior 2.0 cm area of the gland.…”

Deep lobe parotidectomy—why, when, and how?

“…Since the majority of the gland lies superficial to the facial nerve, superficial parotid nodes, both intraglandular and periglandular, are found in all specimens and range from 3 to 19 in number with a mean of 7 [1,[7][8][9]. Nodes within the deep lobe are found in approximately 75% of all specimens and range from 0 to 9 in number with a mean of 2 [1,[7][8][9]. These nodal numbers are actually proportional to the amount of gland found deep and lateral to the facial nerve [10][11][12][13].…”

“…Therefore, one should and does find that approximately 20% of parotid tumors, benign and malignant, and parotid lymph nodes are located in the deep portion [7,8,11]. The deep portion has areas beneath the nerve and over the masseter muscle and gland under the facial nerve and over the deep parotid musculature, the stylohyoid, stylopharyngeus, and styloglossus muscles.…”

Anatomy, Function, and Evaluation of the Salivary Glands

“…The parotid gland, external auditory canal, pinna, scalp, eyelids, and lacrimal glands are all drained by these superficial nodes. The deep layer of nodes drains the gland, external auditory canal, middle ear, nasopharynx, and soft palate [7].…”