Parotid incidentaloma identified by positron emission/computed tomography: when to consider diagnoses other than XXXX .

@entity1 @entity8174 @entity4724
Introduction   @entity8174 ( @entity8174 ) are unexpected hypermetabolic foci in the parotid region that can be found when scanning with whole-body positron emission/computed tomography (PET/CT). These deposits are most commonly due to benign lesions such as @entity4724 . Objective   The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of @entity8174 identified in PET/CT scans and to assess the role of smoking in their etiology. Methods   We retrospectively reviewed all PET/CT scans performed at our center in search of @entity8174 and identified smoking status and standardized uptake value (SUVmax) in each case. We also analyzed the database of parotidectomies performed in our department in the previous 10 years and focused on the pathologic diagnosis and the presence or absence of smoking in each case. Results   Sixteen cases of @entity8174 were found in 4,250 PET/CT scans, accounting for 0.4%. The average SUVmax was 6.5 (range 2.8 to 16). Cytology was performed in five @entity1 ; it was benign in four cases and inconclusive in one case. Thirteen @entity1 had a history of smoking. Of the parotidectomies performed in our center with a diagnosis of @entity4724 , we identified a history of smoking in 93.8% of those @entity1 . Conclusions   The prevalence of @entity8174 on PET/CT was similar to that reported by other authors. @entity4724 is frequently diagnosed among @entity8174 on PET/CT, and it has a strong relationship with smoking. We suggest that a diagnosis other than @entity4724 should be considered for @entity8174 in nonsmokers.
