Venous vascular malformation of the parotid gland

Abstract

Venous vascular malformations of the parotid gland are very rare vascular tumors, especially among adults. This case report discusses the presentation and challenges of diagnosing a venous vascular malformation of the parotid gland in a patient with previous oncologic history. Our patient is a 45‐year‐old female with a history of breast cancer, meningioma, and secreting pituitary adenoma who presented with a malformation on magnetic resonance imaging, incidentally demonstrating a T2 intense mass in the superficial lobe of the right parotid gland. She was otherwise asymptomatic. Ultrasound‐guided fine needle aspiration was nondiagnostic. She underwent a right inferior superficial parotidectomy. Histologic section analysis demonstrated a well‐delineated vascular tumor made of large vascular spaces with thin walls surrounded by a parotid tissue consistent with a venous vascular malformation of the parotid gland. Venous vascular malformations are exceedingly rare, especially among adults. Ultrasound‐guided fine needle aspiration can be of limited value. Parotidectomy may be electively considered for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.