Angiomyolipoma of the parotid gland: a case report

Angiomyolipoma is a hamartomatous process that most frequently occurs as a single lesion or multiple foci in the kidneys of patients affected by tuberous sclerosis. Angiomyolipoma can also arise in extrarenal sites, among which the liver is the most frequently recorded. Only rare cases of angiomyolipoma located in the head and neck region (ear and oral and nasal cavity) have been described. The purpose of the present article is to report a case of angiomyolipoma of the parotid gland. A 68-year-old woman appeared for treatment with a slow-growing nodule located in her right parotid gland. Ultrasound examination revealed a heterogeneous nodule with well-defined margins. The nodule was surgically removed by total parotidectomy and showed the characteristic appearance of angiomyolipoma, with an admixture of fat smooth muscle cells, and tortuous, thick-walled blood vessels. Careful physical examination of the patient failed to reveal features of tuberous sclerosis. Angiomyolipoma should be considered in the differential diagnosis of mesenchymal lesions involving the salivary gland.