Peripheral osteoma of the mandible mimicking a parotid mass.

We report the case of a peripheral osteoma mimicking a benign tumor in the left parotid gland of a 75-year-old woman. The clinical presentation of the painless mass on the lateral surface of the mandibular ascending ramus was suggestive of a benign parotid tumor such as a pleomorphic adenoma. It was diagnosed using computed tomography (CT) and further delineated using 3D spiral CT scanning. Mandibular osteoma should be considered in differential diagnosis of parotid masses, which can be revealed by conventional radiographs.