Objective To investigate the MSCT features of parotid tumors and to analyze the causes of misdiagnosis and improve the diagnostic level. Methods The MSCT findings of 83 patients with parotid tumors proved by surgery and pathology were analyzed retrospectively. The MSCT findings and the causes of misdiagnosis were analyzed. Results 61 cases were benign, and the other was malignant in 22 cases. Benign tumors were located in the superficial lobe, and the border was clear and smooth, persistent or progressive intensification, adenolymphoma was enhanced obviously in the early phase, calcification could be found in pleomorphic adenoma and hemangioma, most adenolymphomas were with cystic change. Most malignant tumors of parotid were located in the deep lobe, with the general characteristics of malignant tumors. CT misdiagnosis in 9 cases: 2 case of adenolymphoma, 2 case of myoepithelioma and 1 case hemangioma were misdiagnosed as pleomorphic adenoma, 1 case pleomorphic adenoma was misdiagnosed as hemangioma,1 case basal cell adenoma was misdiagnosed as malignant tumor,3 cases of malignant tumors with clear boundary length of less than 2.5cm misdiagnosed as benign. Conclusion MSCT can accurately locate and determine the benign and malignant tumors of parotid gland, most of them can be diagnosed before operation, some of them are not typical, and overdependence on predilection sites, gender, age, etc will lead to misdiagnosis.