Accessory parotid gland

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Accessory parotid glands are a normal variant and ~~represent~~ represent ectopic salivary tissue present away and separate from the main parotid gland ¹.

Epidemiology

Accessory parotid glands are not rare, they are described in ~20% of general population ².

Gross anatomy

~~located~~
Located on the masseter muscle, anterior to the main parotid gland, in close association (usually above) or anterior to the Stensen's duct ^{2, 3}
~~accessory~~.
Accessory
parotid glands have their own blood supply and secondary duct emptying into the Stensen's duct ⁴

Radiographic features

~~accessory~~
Accessory parotid glands have the same CT density and MRI signal as the main parotid glands

Related pathology

Any disorder that affects the main parotid gland may also affect the accessory parotid tissue but ~~tumors~~ tumors of the accessory parotid glands are rare ^5, 6.

-<p><strong>Accessory parotid glands </strong>are a normal variant and represent ectopic salivary tissue present away and separate from the main <a href="/articles/parotid-gland">parotid gland</a> <sup>1</sup>.</p><h4>Epidemiology</h4><p>Accessory parotid glands are not rare, they are described in ~20% of general population <sup>2</sup>.</p><h4>Gross anatomy</h4><ul>
-<li>located on the <a href="/articles/masseter-muscle">masseter muscle</a>, anterior to the main parotid gland, in close association (usually above) or anterior to the <a href="/articles/parotid-duct">Stensen's duct</a> <sup>2, 3</sup>
~~-</li>~~
~~-<li>accessory parotid glands have their own blood supply and secondary duct emptying into the Stensen's duct <sup>4</sup>~~
~~-</li>~~
-</ul><h4>Radiographic features</h4><ul><li>accessory parotid glands have the same CT density and MRI signal as the main parotid glands</li></ul><h4>Related pathology</h4><p>Any disorder that affects the main parotid gland may also affect the accessory parotid tissue but tumors of the accessory parotid glands are rare <sup>5, 6</sup>.</p>
+<p><strong>Accessory parotid glands </strong>are a normal variant and represent ectopic salivary tissue present away and separate from the main <a href="/articles/parotid-gland">parotid gland</a> <sup>1</sup>.</p><h4>Epidemiology</h4><p>Accessory parotid glands are not rare, they are described in ~20% of general population <sup>2</sup>.</p><h4>Gross anatomy</h4><p>Located on the <a href="/articles/masseter-muscle">masseter muscle</a>, anterior to the main parotid gland, in close association (usually above) or anterior to the <a href="/articles/parotid-duct">Stensen's duct</a> <sup>2, 3</sup>.</p><p>Accessory parotid glands have their own blood supply and secondary duct emptying into the Stensen's duct <sup>4</sup>.</p><h4>Radiographic features</h4><p>Accessory parotid glands have the same CT density and MRI signal as the main parotid glands.</p><h4>Related pathology</h4><p>Any disorder that affects the main parotid gland may also affect the accessory parotid tissue but tumors of the accessory parotid glands are rare <sup>5, 6</sup>.</p>

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