Ectopic parotid gland in the left cheek: a case report

BACKGROUND: The parotid glands are one of the major components of the salivary glands. Their function is to secrete serous saliva to facilitate chewing and swallowing. The normal position of the parotid glands is anterior to and below the lower half of the ear; superficial, posterior, and deep to the ramus of the mandible. CASE PRESENTATION: In this article, we present a rare case of an ectopic left parotid gland located in the left cheek of a 45-year-old Middle-Eastern female who presented with a painless mass inside the left side of her face. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a well-defined mass in the left buccal fat, which was isosignal with the right parotid gland. CONCLUSION: Further evaluations of detected cases are necessary to obtain more information regarding the pathogenesis and possible etiologies of this condition. There is a need for more reports of similar cases, as well as diagnostic and etiologic studies, to understand the cause of this condition further.