The effect of ionizing irradiation on the intraductal pressure of the human parotid gland

The intraductal pressure of the human parotid glands in patients who had received fractionated ionizing irradiation prior to operation for pleomorphic adenoma was studied after stimulation of the glands with a 3 % solution of acetic acid. The following observations of interest were made: 1) the stimulation raised the intraductal pressure within 1–2 seconds; 2) the mean intraductal pressure in 24 normal glands after the first stimulation reached 752 mm H2O; 3) irradiation with one single dose (5 Gy) reduced the intraductal pressure of diseased glands by about 80 % within 24 hours; and 4) after three doses of 5 Gy/day no intraductal pressure could be measured on the irradiated side.