Cystic Hygroma of Bilateral Parotid Glands and Neck

Abstract

Lymphangiomas are congenital malformations of lymphatic system. Most of the lymphangiomas appear before the age of 2 years. Microscopically lymphangiomas are capillary, cavernous and cystic. Cystic hygromas usually show extensive infiltration in surrounding tissues. Cystic hygromas of the parotid gland are rare. It is more common for cystic hygromas of neck to secondarily involve the parotid gland. Increase in the size of the mass is associated with haemorrhage into the cyst and upper respiratory tract infection. Recurrence is common if incompletely excised. Here, authors report a case of 16-month-old child (female) presented with swelling in bilateral parotid regions for 15 days. USG, CT and MRI showed bilaterally enlarged parotid glands showing multilocular cystic lesions of variable sizes with extension in bilateral masticator spaces, parapharyngeal and carotid spaces, posterior triangle and bilateral tonsillar fossa. Small cystic hygroma was also seen in superior mediastinum in prevascular space. Bilateral parotid gland involvement is the peculiar finding of the present case.

Keywords

• congenital malformation
• lymphangioma
• venolymphatic malformation