Parotid gland parenchyma histology may be altered by local or systemic, pathological or nonpathological conditions. OBJECTIVE: This paper aims to highlight the fatty degeneration of the parotid gland, a not well-known non-pathological condition. METHOD: In a retrospective study, we collected a series of 6 patients which presented a swelling of the parotid, but even after extensive research, a diagnosis was not reached. RESULTS: Through the retrospective analysis of records we found fatty degeneration of the parotid in an MRI scan of all patients. CONCLUSION: This condition, despite being physiological and expected with aging, may be related to clinical and radiological swelling of these glands.
fats; magnetic resonance imaging; parotid gland
