Infant with a parotid swelling: beware of the rare

Infantile Parotid Hemangioma With Diagnostic Dilemma: A Case Report

Introduction:

Salivary gland tumors are uncommon in children; hemangiomas are one of them. We report a case of infantile hemangioma of the parotid gland which posed a diagnostic dilemma.

Patients and Methods:

Four-month-old infant presented with swelling at the parotid gland region, which was progressively increasing. There was a diagnostic dilemma with initial misdiagnosis as acute parotitis. Imaging studies with ultrasonography and CT with contrast were requested.

Results:

Imaging studies revealed hyperintense lobulated mass suggestive of parotid hemangioma. Vascular consultation recommended conservative management with follow-up after 3 months. On follow-up, there was an increase in mass size, and propranolol was started. Swelling showed a good response on the next follow-up visit and is still on medical management.

Conclusion:

Parotid hemangiomas frequently pose a diagnostic dilemma, but the typical noninflammatory nature of the swelling and radiological evaluation confirms the diagnosis.