A mass at fat density in the parotid gland: dermoid cyst or lipoma

Abstract

A mass at fat density in the parotid gland: dermoid cyst or lipoma. Dermoid cysts (DC) of the head and neck are uncommon and account for only 7% of all dermoid cysts in the body. DCs of the parotid gland are even rarer. In this article, a 42-year-old female patient with DC of the parotid gland is presented and discussed with a brief review of the literature. Radiologic findings suggested that the mass was a lipoma, but observation of a hair in the cyst during surgery changed the clinical diagnosis to DC; this suspicion was confirmed by pathological analysis. Although DCs are rare among the parotid masses, they should be kept in mind during the differential diagnosis.