Venous malformations with multiple phleboliths arising from the parotid gland: A case report

Abstract

AbstractPhleboliths are calcified thrombi that occur in vascular channels associated with venous malformations. When phleboliths are located in the salivary gland, they are difficult to differentiate from sialolithiasis due to the similarities in their clinical and radiological features. We present the case of a patient who complained of left parotid pain and was found to have multiple calcified bodies, interpreted as sialolithiasis, in the parotid gland on plain computed tomography (CT). T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a hyper-intense signal region in and around the parotid gland, and this finding suggested the possibility of venous malformations. A superficial parotidectomy was performed, and the histological diagnosis was venous malformations containing phleboliths. MRI was useful in differentiating between the aforementioned diseases. We describe the clinical course and review the literature.

Keywords

• Salivary gland
• parotid gland
• phleboliths
• vascular malformation
• sialolithiasis