title: Atheroma of the facial artery mimicking a parotid gland tumor: A case report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Atheroma of the facial artery is an extremely rare disease.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Herein, we report an extremely rare case of an atheroma arising from the facial artery, mimicking a parotid gland tumor.
  
  
  METHODS
  The preoperative diagnosis was a right-sided parotid gland tumor.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed removal of the right parotid gland tumor, via a modified face-lift incision.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Histological examination of the specimen revealed an atheroma of the facial artery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Clinicians should consider atheroma in the differential diagnosis of tumors arising around the parotid gland.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Chonnam National University Medical School & Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital, Hwasun, Korea.
authors.forename: Dong Hoon
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Tae Mi
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Joon Kyoo
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sang Chul
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Lim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001158:Arteries / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004210:Dissection / Q000379:methods; D005145:Face / Q000098:blood supply*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D033162:Incidental Findings; D010307:Parotid Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*