Kasabach-Merritt Phenomenon of the Parotid Gland: Case Report and Literature Review

Kasabach-Merritt phenomenon (KMP) is a rare but life-threatening condition characterized by consumptive coagulopathy associated with a vascular tumor. This phenomenon usually presents in early infancy and commonly reported sites of tumor include extremities, trunk, and neck. We report a newborn with KMP, presenting with parotid gland hemangioma and associated vascular complications. This case report and literature review, aim to describe the imaging features of KMP in an infant, along with a compilation of cases from the literature, with a particular focus on the radiological findings of the vascular tumor. Sixteen patients described in seven articles published between 1993 and 2021 were analyzed. Most of the cases were males (56%), with a median age of 13.5 days, an interquartile range (IQR) of 2.75 to 30 days, and lesions primarily located in the parotid gland. The most commonly affected side was 87.5% of cases involved the main gland, 6.25% the thoracic wall and 6.25 the supraclavicular region. The lesions also involved secondary sites such as the temporal region, submandibular area, neck, facial region, and extensive areas involving the thorax and extremities. KMP in the parotid gland is a rare manifestation. Advanced radiological imaging, particularly MRI and contrast-enhanced CT, plays a critical role in the diagnosis, staging, and detection of associated complications. The integration of imaging findings with clinical and laboratory data is essential for timely therapeutic decisions. Continued efforts to refine imaging protocols and gather epidemiological data will improve the prognosis of patients with this complex condition, emphasizing the need for a multidisciplinary approach.