Accessory parotid gland
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Ibrahim D, Rasuli B, Anan R, et al. Accessory parotid gland. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 16 Jan 2025) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-30211
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rID:
30211
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Disclosures:
At the time the article was created Dalia Ibrahim had no recorded disclosures.
View Dalia Ibrahim's current disclosures
Last revised:
Disclosures:
At the time the article was last revised Bahman Rasuli had no financial relationships to ineligible companies to disclose.
View Bahman Rasuli's current disclosures
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Systems:
Sections:
Synonyms:
- Accessory parotid glands
- Accessory parotids
- Accessory parotid glands
Accessory parotid glands are a normal variant and represent ectopic salivary tissue separate from, but usually in close proximity to, the main parotid glands.
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Epidemiology
Accessory parotid glands are commonly picked up incidentally on ultrasound; seen in ~20% of the general population 2.
Gross anatomy
Located on the lateral aspect of the masseter muscle, anterior to the main parotid gland, usually superior (occasionally anterior) to the main parotid duct (Stensen duct) 2,3. They are, on average, within 6 mm of the main parotid gland 8.
Accessory parotid glands have their own blood supply and secondary duct emptying into the main parotid duct 4.
Radiographic features
Accessory parotid glands have the same US echotexture, CT density, and MRI signal as the main parotid glands.
Differential diagnosis
- facial process of the parotid gland 8
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Related pathology
Any disorder that affects the main parotid gland may also affect the accessory parotid tissue, but tumors of the accessory parotid glands are rare 5,6.
References
- 1. Ramachar SM, Huliyappa HA. Accessory parotid gland tumors. Ann Maxillofac Surg. 2012;2 (1): 90-3. doi:10.4103/2231-0746.95334 - Free text at pubmed - Pubmed citation
- 2. Frommer J. The human accessory parotid gland: its incidence, nature, and significance. Oral Surg. Oral Med. Oral Pathol. 1977;43 (5): 671-6. Pubmed citation
- 3. Ramachar SM, Huliyappa HA. Accessory parotid gland tumors. Ann Maxillofac Surg. 2012;2 (1): 90-3. doi:10.4103/2231-0746.95334 - Free text at pubmed - Pubmed citation
- 4. Skandalakis LJ. Surgical Anatomy. P.M.P. ISBN:9603990744. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
- 5. Witt RL. Salivary Gland Diseases. Thieme. (2011) ISBN:1604065370. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
- 6. Afify SE, Maynard JD. Tumours of the accessory lobe of the parotid gland. Postgrad Med J. 1992;68 (800): 461-2. Free text at pubmed - Pubmed citation
- 7. Toh H, Kodama J, Fukuda J et-al. Incidence and histology of human accessory parotid glands. Anat. Rec. 1993;236 (3): 586-90. doi:10.1002/ar.1092360319 - Pubmed citation
- 8. Dongbin Ahn, Chang Ki Yeo, Soon Yong Han, et al. The accessory parotid gland and facial process of the parotid gland on computed tomography. (2017) PLOS ONE. 12 (9): e0184633. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0184633 - Pubmed
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Articles:
Cases:
- Accessory parotid gland
- Unilateral masseter muscle hypertrophy
- Accessory parotid gland
- Facial process of the parotid gland
- Accessory parotid gland
- Accessory parotid gland
- Bilateral accessory parotid glands
- Pleomorphic adenoma in accessory parotid gland
- Facial process of parotid gland
- Accessory parotid glands
- Bilateral accessory parotid glands
- Accessory parotid glands
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