Objective: The purpose of this prospective study was to study the ultrasound anatomy and color doppler flow image of the normal sublingual glands.
Methods: Two hundred and seven cases with normal sublingual glands were examined with percutaneous suprahyoid real-time high-frequency ultrasound and color dopple ultrasound. The views and the sizes of the different parts of the sublingual glands were determined.
Results: The results showed that the continual and comprehensive ultrasound anatomy and color doppler flow image of normal sublingual gland could be obtained 100%, and the ultrasound images of the important normal structures of the sublingual gland were clearly discernible. The widths of the head and tail of the right sublingual glands were 9.56±1.93 mm and 4.65±0.78 mm,while the thickness of those were 15.30±2.47 mm and 5.41±1.38 mm. Besides, the widths of the head and tail of the left sublingual glands were 9.45±1.84 mm and 4.93±1.11 mm, while the thickness of those were 15.31±2.47 mm and 5.60±1.54 mm. The lengths of right and left sublingual glands were 27.43±5.07 mm(R) and 28.07±4.38 mm(L) respectively. The peak systolic velocity and the RI of right sublingual gland artery were 0.16±0.08 m/s and 0.74±0.14. .And those of the left were 0.19±0.15 m/s and 0.73±0.11 . The mean flow velocity of right and left sublilngual gland veins were 0.06±0.07 m/s and 0.07±0.09 m/s respectively.
Conclusions: It is suggested that the reserch results mentioned in this paper will provide an important ultrasound anatomic basis for ultrasound diagnosis of the sublingual gland diseases.