CT Diagnosis of Basal Cell Adenoma of the Parotid Gland in the Parapharyngeal Space

Objective: CT feature of the basal cell adenoma of parotid gland in parapharyngeal space and its main points of identification from neurilemmoma of parapharyngeal space were discussed. Method: An infrequent CT feature of one example of basal cell adenoma in parapharyngeal space was reported and analyzed. All literatures on this disease diagnosed by CT were reviewed from 2010 in China. Among them there were only four articles reporting more than 10 samples with detailed data and full description. Totally there were 77 samples and 83 lesions. In this paper, the number, sizes, locations of parotid gland, cystic degeneration and calcification of those lesions were subtotaled. Result: 94.8% of them were single disease, 86.7% of them were located in superficial lobe, 92.8% of them were smaller than 3 cm, 60.2% of them were cystic degeneration and 2.4% of them were calcification. Basal cell adenoma of parotid gland in parapharyngeal space was located in the superficial side to the posterior belly of digastric muscle and fat ingression in parapharyngeal space happened. Conclusion: CT feature of the basal cell adenoma of parotid gland in parapharyngeal space shows some certain characteristics. Posterior belly of digastric muscle is the boundary to identify the basal cell adenoma and the neurilemmoma in parapharyngeal space.