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Peer-reviewedCC BYScientific Reports

Comparative anatomical and ultrasonographic analysis of the accessory parotid gland in cadaveric specimens

  • So-Hyun Park1
  • Joo-Hyun Park2
  • Boeun Lee3
  • Seung-Ho Han1
  1. 1Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine, Ewha Womans University
  2. 2Ewha Medical Academy, Ewha Womans University Medical Center
  3. 3Department of Radiology, College of Medicine, Ewha Womans University
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Abstract

The accessory parotid gland (APG) is a salivary tissue separated from the parotid gland (PG). Despite its higher malignancy risk than the PG, detailed anatomical data remain limited. This study aimed to characterize the prevalence, morphometry, and structural relationships of the APG through cadaveric dissection with direct ultrasonography (US) comparison. Twenty-eight hemifaces (mean age, 81.21 years, 7 females and 7 males) were analyzed. Pre-dissection US, cadaveric dissection, and post-dissection US were performed. APG prevalence was higher on dissection (35.7%) than on US (21.4%). All APGs were located superior to the parotid duct (PD), inferior to the Frankfort horizontal plane, and within the middle third of the cheek. The mean length and width were 22.1 ± 5.7 mm and 14.4 ± 2.7 mm, respectively, at a mean distance of 6.5 ± 4.2 mm from the PG. An accessory parotid duct draining into the PD was identified in 30.0% of cases. The buccal branches of the facial nerve showed three spatial patterns relative to the APG, namely superficial (66.7%), marginal (22.2%), and penetrating (11.1%). This study provides dissection-based anatomical reference data for the APG with direct US comparison that may serve as a practical reference for radiological evaluation and surgical planning.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{park2026comparative,
  title = {{Comparative anatomical and ultrasonographic analysis of the accessory parotid gland in cadaveric specimens}},
  author = {So-Hyun Park and Joo-Hyun Park and Boeun Lee and Seung-Ho Han},
  journal = {Scientific Reports},
  year = {2026},
  month = aug,
  doi = {10.1038/s41598-026-59087-5},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-59087-5},
  note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Comparative anatomical and ultrasonographic analysis of the accessory parotid gland in cadaveric specimens
AU  - So-Hyun Park
AU  - Joo-Hyun Park
AU  - Boeun Lee
AU  - Seung-Ho Han
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/08/01
JO  - Scientific Reports
DO  - 10.1038/s41598-026-59087-5
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-59087-5
AB  - The accessory parotid gland (APG) is a salivary tissue separated from the parotid gland (PG). Despite its higher malignancy risk than the PG, detailed anatomical data remain limited. This study aimed to characterize the prevalence, morphometry, and structural relationships of the APG through cadaveric dissection with direct ultrasonography (US) comparison. Twenty-eight hemifaces (mean age, 81.21 years, 7 females and 7 males) were analyzed. Pre-dissection US, cadaveric dissection, and post-dissection US were performed. APG prevalence was higher on dissection (35.7%) than on US (21.4%). All APGs were located superior to the parotid duct (PD), inferior to the Frankfort horizontal plane, and within the middle third of the cheek. The mean length and width were 22.1 ± 5.7 mm and 14.4 ± 2.7 mm, respectively, at a mean distance of 6.5 ± 4.2 mm from the PG. An accessory parotid duct draining into the PD was identified in 30.0% of cases. The buccal branches of the facial nerve showed three spatial patterns relative to the APG, namely superficial (66.7%), marginal (22.2%), and penetrating (11.1%). This study provides dissection-based anatomical reference data for the APG with direct US comparison that may serve as a practical reference for radiological evaluation and surgical planning.
SN  - 2045-2322
ER  -