Hemangioma of the Parotid Gland in an Infant: MR and Doppler US Findings.

Fig. 2 Conflict interest statement The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest to the publication of this article. Hemangioma, also known as hemangioendothelioma, is the most common parotid gland tumor in childhood. Girls are affected 3 times more frequently than boys [1]. They are usually not noticed in the newborn period but become prominent in the first months of life [2]. The median age at presentation is about 4 months, and hemangiomas are mostly diagnosed during the first 16 months of infancy. Due to its benign course, it is underrepresented in biopsy series [1]. Parotid hemangiomas demonstrate rapid growth in the first months of life but usually show spontaneous regression after 18 months [2]. We demonstrate a typical right parotid gland hemangioma in a 4 month old infant who had been admitted to clinic with neck swelling that had first been noticed at 2 months of age. The pregnancy and delivery had been unremarkable, and the child was otherwise healthy. A coronal T2-weighted MR image showed a characteristic hyperintense right parotid gland hemangioma containing vascular flow voids. The normal parotid gland could not be differentiated on the right side (Fig. 1). Color Doppler ultrasound showed an enlarged and heterogeneous right parotid gland and a normal homogenous parotid gland on the left side. Compared to the left, the right parotid gland showed marked vascularity (Fig. 2). Hemangiomas of the parotid gland are diagnosed on clinical grounds that are supported by imaging findings. MR is the best imaging method for the assessment of parotid hemangioma, and its elongation and Doppler US can demonstrate high vascularity and spectral blood flow.