Venous aneurysms of the parotid gland

Venous aneurysms of the parotid gland are rare lesions that have distinctive clinicopathologic features. Clinically, they appear suddenly and manifest as masses in the parotid area. Characteristically, these masses are compressible, fill on release of pressure, and increase in size when the head is lowered below the heart and when the Valsalva maneuver is performed. Also, venous aneurysms are nonpulsatile. Definitive diagnosis, however, requires phlebography. Pathologically, these lesions represent aneurysmal dilatation of a segment of a vein and are frequently thrombosed. Surgical excision is the treatment of choice.