Objective To analyze the CT imaging findings of benign and malignant parotid tumors and to summarize the application value of CT in differential diagnosis of benign and malignant parotid tumors. Methods The clinical datum of 51 patients with primary benign parotid tumors and 45 patients with malignant parotid tumors pathologically confirmed in the hospital from January 2013 to January 2015 were retrospectively analyzed and the CT imaging characteristics were also analyzed. The 96 patients were given nonenhanced CT and enhanced scanning. The imaging datum were integrated and were statistically analyzed. The the application value of CT in differential diagnosis of benign and malignant parotid tumors was analyzed. Results Among 96 patients in the group, there were 51 cases of benign tumor with a total of 59 lesions and 45 cases of malignant tumors with a total of 45 lesions; The differences in location, shape, density, boundary, cystic degeneration, lymph node enlargement and strengthening degree between the patients with benign tumor and with malignant tumors were statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusion Most of the shape of malignant tumors are irregular and the boundary is not clear, performing as infiltrative growth. After enhanced scan, the tumors were with significantly enhanced features and irregular cystic necrosis performance, showing cervical lymph nodes enlargement and conversely, they are identified as benign lesions.