Asymptomatic unilateral parotid gland agenesis

Parotid gland agenesis (PGA) is a rare congenital anomaly, often detected incidentally due to its typically asymptomatic nature. We report a 44-year-old woman referred for a neck CT scan because of dysphagia, which revealed complete absence of the left parotid gland, confirmed by ultrasound. The remaining salivary glands were normal. The patient had no facial asymmetry, syndromic features, recurrent infections, or xerostomia. Physical and oral examinations were unremarkable except for the absence of the left parotid papilla. Parotid agenesis may occur sporadically or in association with genetic syndromes. Asymptomatic unilateral agenesis generally requires no intervention, while symptomatic cases are managed with supportive oral care. Awareness of this rare anomaly is important to prevent misdiagnosis and unnecessary procedures, especially given the prevalence of parotid-origin salivary gland malignancies.