# When Benign Mimics Malignancy: Parapharyngeal Oncocytoma in a Patient With Marginal Zone Lymphoma

## TL;DR

A rare benign tumor in the neck was mistaken for cancer in a patient with a history of lymphoma, highlighting the need for detailed testing to avoid misdiagnosis.

## Contribution

This case highlights the diagnostic challenge of distinguishing benign oncocytoma from malignancy in lymphoma patients using imaging alone.

## Key findings

- Parapharyngeal oncocytoma can mimic malignancy on imaging in lymphoma patients.
- Histopathological confirmation is essential for accurate diagnosis of deep-neck masses.
- Longitudinal PET imaging showed stable metabolic activity, supporting the benign nature of the tumor.

## Abstract

Parapharyngeal oncocytomas are rare benign salivary gland tumors that can be challenging to distinguish from malignant lesions on imaging, particularly in patients with a history of lymphoma. This case underscores the importance of histopathological confirmation and multidisciplinary evaluation in managing deep‐neck masses, particularly when imaging may falsely suggest malignancy.

Chronological overview of clinical presentation, diagnostic procedures, and longitudinal PET imaging demonstrating evolving metabolic activity of a parapharyngeal oncocytoma depicting the patient's clinical journey diagnostic evaluation, pathological confirmation of parapharyngeal oncocytoma, and subsequent follow‐up demonstrating disease stability.