Morphology, Volume, and Density Characteristics of the Parotid Glands before and after Chemoradiation Therapy in Patients with Head and Neck Tumors

Figure 2

Enhanced-contrast computed tomography (CECT) showing the convexity of the parotid gland prior to chemoradiation therapy (CRT) (a). CECT showing the tendency of the parotid gland to flatten in the post-CRT period (b). The CRT resulted in a migration of the parotids toward the midline (medial) and superior (cranial) directions. This migration can be explained by the fact that the lateral boundaries of the gland suffer more directly by the effects of radiation, considering it is not surrounded by bone structures. Therefore, the gland loses its convexity and tends to acquire a flat or even concave shape.

(a)

(b)