Abstract
Background: There is currently no convenient method for measuring parotid gland hypertrophy, a common condition among patients with bulimia nervosa (BN) and anorexia nervosa (AN). Objective: To develop a technique for reliably estimating change in parotid gland size. Methods: A method for measuring facial width as a surrogate marker of parotid gland size was developed using calipers to measure between defined reference points located on the parotid gland region. The method was tested for reliability when performed by a single operator and used to determine face width measurements of 15 control subjects. Results: Face width measurements were reliable when performed by a single operator. Face width measurements of control subjects ranged from 9.1 cm to 15.3 cm. Discussion: The caliper method of measuring changes in parotid size is a novel method of measurement of parotid hypertrophy. It is quick, non-invasive and inexpensive and is highly reliable in the hands of a single operator.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Coleman H., Altini M., Nayler S., Richards A.: Sialadenosis: a presenting sign in bulimia. Head Neck, 20, 758–762, 1998.
Mandel L., Surattanont F.: Bilateral parotid swelling: a review. Oral Surg. Oral Med. Oral Pathol. Oral Radiol. Endod., 93, 221–237, 2002.
Mandel L., Kaynar A.: Bulimia and parotid swelling: a review and case report. J. Oral Maxillofac. Surg., 50, 1122–1125, 1992.
Casper R.C.: The pathophysiology of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. Annu. Rev. Nutr., 6, 299–316, 1986.
Berke G.S., Calcaterra T.C.: Parotid hypertrophy with bulimia: a report of surgical management. Laryngoscope, 95, 597–598, 1985.
Ahola S.J.: Unexplained parotid enlargement: a clue to occult bulimia. Conn. Med., 46, 185–186, 1982.
Rauch S.D., Herzog D.B.: Parotidectomy for bulimia: a dissenting view. Am. J. Otolaryngol., 8, 376–380, 1987.
Riad M., Barton J.R., Wilson J.A., Freeman C.P., Maran A.G.: Parotid salivary secretory pattern in bulimia nervosa. Acta Otolaryngol., 111, 392–395, 1991.
Mandel L., Hamele-Bena D.: Alcoholic parotid sialadenosis. J. Am. Dent. Assoc., 128, 1411–1415, 1997.
Donath K., Seifert G.: Ultrastructural studies of the parotid glands in sialadenosis. Virchows Arch., 365, 119–135, 1975.
Chilla R., Arglebe C.: Function of salivary glands and sialochemistry in sialadenosis. Acta Otorhinolaryngol. Belg., 37, 158–164, 1983.
Chilla R.: Sialadenosis of the salivary glands of the head. Studies on the physiology and pathophysiology of parotid secretion. Adv. Otorhinolaryngol., 26, 1–38, 1981.
Batsakis J.G.: Pathology consultation. Sialadenosis. Ann. Otol. Rhinol. Laryngol., 97, 94–95, 1988.
Ascoli V., Albedi F.M., De Blasiis R., Nardi F.; Sialadenosis of the parotid gland: report of four cases diagnosed by fine-needle aspiration cytology. Diagn. Cytopathol., 9, 151–155, 1993.
Casu M., Patrone V., Gianelli M.V., Marchegiani A., Ragni G., Murialdo G., Polleri A.: Spectral analysis of R-R interval variability by short-term recording in anorexia nervosa. Eat. Weight Disord., 7, 239–243, 2002.
Kreipe R.E., Goldstein B., Deking D.E., Tipton R., Kempski M.H.: Heart rate power spectrum analysis of autonomic dysfunction in adolescents with anorexia nervosa. Int. J. Eat. Disord., 16, 159–165, 1994.
Rechlin T., Weis M., Ott C., Bleichner F., Joraschky P.: Alterations of autonomic cardiac control in anorexia nervosa. Biol. Psychiatry, 43, 358–363, 1998.
Chronbach L.: Coefficient alpha and the internal structure of tests. Psychometrica, 6, 297–334, 1951.
Birmingham C.L., Gutierrez E., Jonat L., Beumont P.: Randomized controlled trial of warming in anorexia nervosa. Int. J. Eat. Disord., 35, p. 234–238, 2004.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Clare, M., Gritzner, S., Hlynsky, J. et al. Measuring change in parotid gland size: Test-retest reliability of a novel method. Eat Weight Disord 10, e61–e65 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03327552
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03327552