Intraparotid lymph nodes
Last revised by Joel Hng on 15 Mar 2023
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Deng F, Hng J, Hacking C, et al. Intraparotid lymph nodes. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 02 Oct 2023) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-66671
Permalink:
rID:
66671
Article created:
28 Feb 2019, Francis Deng ◉
Disclosures:
At the time the article was created Francis Deng had no recorded disclosures.
View Francis Deng's current disclosuresLast revised:
15 Mar 2023, Joel Hng
Disclosures:
At the time the article was last revised Joel Hng had no financial relationships to ineligible companies to disclose.
View Joel Hng's current disclosuresRevisions:
7 times, by 7 contributors - see full revision history and disclosures
Systems:
Sections:
Tags:
Synonyms:
- Intraparotid nodes
- Parotid lymph nodes
- Intraparotid lymph nodes
The intraparotid lymph nodes are groups of cervical lymph nodes located within the parenchyma of each of the parotid glands.
On this page:
Gross anatomy
Among the salivary glands, only the parotid glands have their own internal lymph nodes due to the late encapsulation of the parotids during embryologic development.
Parotid nodes receive drainage from cutaneous sites, such as around the external ear, forehead/temple, eyelids, cheek, nasal cavities and nasopharynx 8.
Based on cadaveric studies 1,2, the vast majority of normal parotid glands have identifiable lymph nodes (90%). Of these, about two-thirds have lymph nodes in only the superficial lobe, whilst one-third have nodes in both the superficial and deep lobes. Superficial lobes have on average three nodes, while deep lobes should have no more than three nodes. Altogether, superficial lobe nodes account for about 90% of all intraparotid lymph nodes. Within the superficial lobe, nodes tend to be located along the retromandibular vein, particularly in the parotid tail.
Normal intraparotid lymph nodes measure <6 mm 3.
ADVERTISEMENT: Supporters see fewer/no ads
Related pathology
The intraparotid lymph nodes are an important site of metastasis of head and neck cancers, most commonly cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma and, less commonly, oral cavity cancer 4-6.
Differential diagnosis
benign lymphoepithelial lesions, which may mimic a necrotic node
See also
References
- 1. Sönmez Ergün S, Gayretli O, Büyükpınarbaşılı N, Yıldız K, Gürses IA, Avşar A, Cavlak M. Determining the number of intraparotid lymph nodes: postmortem examination. (2014) Journal of cranio-maxillo-facial surgery : official publication of the European Association for Cranio-Maxillo-Facial Surgery. 42 (5): 657-60. doi:10.1016/j.jcms.2013.09.011 - Pubmed
- 2. McKean ME, Lee K, McGregor IA. The distribution of lymph nodes in and around the parotid gland: an anatomical study. (1985) British journal of plastic surgery. 38 (1): 1-5. Pubmed
- 3. Kashiwagi N, Murakami T, Toguchi M, Nakanishi K, Hidaka S, Fukui H, Kimura M, Kitano M, Tomiyama N. Metastases to the parotid nodes: CT and MR imaging findings. (2016) Dento maxillo facial radiology. 45 (8): 20160201. doi:10.1259/dmfr.20160201 - Pubmed
- 4. Thom JJ, Moore EJ, Price DL, Kasperbauer JL, Starkman SJ, Olsen KD. The Role of Total Parotidectomy for Metastatic Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Malignant Melanoma. (2014) JAMA otolaryngology-- head & neck surgery. 140 (6): 548-54. doi:10.1001/jamaoto.2014.352 - Pubmed
- 5. Harada H, Omura K. Metastasis of oral cancer to the parotid node. (2009) European journal of surgical oncology : the journal of the European Society of Surgical Oncology and the British Association of Surgical Oncology. 35 (8): 890-4. doi:10.1016/j.ejso.2008.09.013 - Pubmed
- 6. Kashiwagi N, Murakami T, Toguchi M, Nakanishi K, Hidaka S, Fukui H, Kimura M, Kitano M, Tomiyama N. Metastases to the parotid nodes: CT and MR imaging findings. (2016) Dento maxillo facial radiology. 45 (8): 20160201. doi:10.1259/dmfr.20160201 - Pubmed
- 7. Cicero G, D'angelo T, Racchiusa S, Salamone I, Visalli C, Bottari A, Blandino A, Mazziotti S. Cross-sectional Imaging of Parotid Gland Nodules: A Brief Practical Guide. (2018) Journal of clinical imaging science. 8: 14. doi:10.4103/jcis.JCIS_8_18 - Pubmed
- 8. Koroulakis A, Jamal Z, Agarwal M. Anatomy, Head and Neck, Lymph Nodes. [Updated 2021 Dec 15]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK513317/
Related articles: Anatomy: Head and neck
- skeleton of the head and neck
-
cranial vault
- scalp (mnemonic)
- fontanelle
-
sutures
- calvarial
- facial
- frontozygomatic suture
- frontomaxillary suture
- frontolacrimal suture
- frontonasal suture
- temporozygomatic suture
- zygomaticomaxillary suture
- parietotemporal suture (parietomastoid suture)
- occipitotemporal suture (occipitomastoid suture)
- sphenofrontal suture
- sphenozygomatic suture
- spheno-occipital suture (not a true suture)
- lacrimomaxillary suture
- nasomaxillary suture
- internasal suture
- basal/internal
- skull landmarks
- frontal bone
- temporal bone
- parietal bone
- occipital bone
- skull base (foramina)
-
facial bones
- midline single bones
- paired bilateral bones
- cervical spine
- hyoid bone
- laryngeal cartilages
-
cranial vault
- muscles of the head and neck
- muscles of the tongue (mnemonic)
- muscles of mastication
-
facial muscles
- epicranius muscle
- circumorbital and palpebral muscles
- nasal muscles
-
buccolabial muscles
- elevators, retractors and evertors of the upper lip
- levator labii superioris alaeque nasalis muscle
- levator labii superioris muscle
- zygomaticus major muscle
- zygomaticus minor muscle
- levator anguli oris muscle
- malaris muscle
- risorius muscle
- depressors, retractors and evertors of the lower lip
- depressor labii inferioris muscle
- depressor anguli oris muscle
- mentalis muscle
- compound sphincter
-
orbicularis oris muscle
- incisivus labii superioris muscle
- incisivus labii inferioris muscle
-
orbicularis oris muscle
- muscle of mastication
- modiolus
- elevators, retractors and evertors of the upper lip
- muscles of the middle ear
- orbital muscles
- muscles of the soft palate
- pharyngeal muscles
- suprahyoid muscles
- infrahyoid muscles
- intrinsic muscles of the larynx
- muscles of the neck
- platysma muscle
- longus colli muscle
- longus capitis muscle
- scalenus anterior muscle
- scalenus medius muscle
- scalenus posterior muscle
- scalenus pleuralis muscle
- sternocleidomastoid muscle
-
suboccipital muscles
- rectus capitis posterior major muscle
- rectus capitis posterior minor muscle
- obliquus capitis superior muscle
- obliquus capitis inferior muscle
- accessory muscles of the neck
- deep cervical fascia
-
deep spaces of the neck
- anterior cervical space
- buccal space
- carotid space
- danger space
- deep cervical fascia
- infratemporal fossa
- masticator space
- parapharyngeal space
- stylomandibular tunnel
- parotid space
- pharyngeal (superficial) mucosal space
- perivertebral space
- posterior cervical space
- pterygopalatine fossa
- retropharyngeal space
- suprasternal space (of Burns)
- visceral space
- surgical triangles of the neck
- orbit
- ear
- paranasal sinuses
- upper respiratory tract
- viscera of the neck
- blood supply of the head and neck
-
arterial supply
-
common carotid artery
- carotid body
- carotid bifurcation
- subclavian artery
- variants
-
common carotid artery
- venous drainage
-
arterial supply
- innervation of the head and neck
-
cranial nerves
- olfactory nerve (CN I)
- optic nerve (CN II)
- oculomotor nerve (CN III)
- trochlear nerve (CN IV)
-
trigeminal nerve (CN V) (mnemonic)
- trigeminal ganglion
- ophthalmic division
- maxillary division
- mandibular division
- abducens nerve (CN VI)
- facial nerve (CN VII)
-
vestibulocochlear nerve (CN VIII)
- vestibular ganglion (Scarpa's ganglion)
- glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX)
- vagus nerve (CN X)
- (spinal) accessory nerve (CN XI)
- hypoglossal nerve (CN XII)
- parasympathetic ganglia of the head and neck
- cervical sympathetic ganglia
- greater occipital nerve
- third occipital nerve
-
cervical plexus
- muscular branches
- longus capitis
- longus colli
- scalenes
- geniohyoid
- thyrohyoid
-
ansa cervicalis
- omohyoid (superior and inferior bellies separately)
- sternothyroid
- sternohyoid
- phrenic nerve
- contribution to the accessory nerve (CN XI)
- cutaneous branches
- muscular branches
- brachial plexus
- pharyngeal plexus
-
cranial nerves
- lymphatic drainage of the head and neck
- embryological development of the head and neck
Unable to process the form. Check for errors and try again.