Computed tomography of parotid masses

The anatomically complex parotid region includes the parotid salivary glands, large blood vessels (including the occipital, internal and external carotid arteries; the linguofacial, maxillary and jugular veins), lymph nodes, cranial nerves and the larynx/pharynx. The most common type of parotid masses are melanomas, commonly detected in grey horses [1]. Other reported conditions include other neoplasia (such as carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, lymphoma and acinic gland carcinoma), abscess formation and sialoadenitis [2]. Evaluation of masses seen in this region is challenging, but use of ultrasound, radiography, CT and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can add valuable information to that obtained by clinical examination ...