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Published on: April 24, 2016
Cervical tumor by ectopic salivary gland
1Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Hospital C. Argerich, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
The Journal of Craniofacial Surgery
|April 21, 2001
Summary
Recurrent neck tumors, initially diagnosed as thyroglossal cysts, may represent rare ectopic salivary glands. Early suspicion of ectopic salivary tissue is crucial for accurate diagnosis and treatment.
Area of Science:
- Head and Neck Surgery
- Developmental Biology
- Pathology
Background:
- Heterotopic salivary tissue, or ectopic salivary glands, are rare congenital anomalies.
- Anomalous embryologic development is the primary suspected cause of these lesions.
Observation:
- A case report details a 26-year-old woman with a midline cervical cystic tumor initially diagnosed as a thyroglossal cyst.
- Immediate recurrence after Sistrunk operation prompted a second surgery, revealing a solid tumor between tongue muscles and a draining cervical fistula.
Findings:
- Pathological examination confirmed the excised mass as an ectopic salivary gland with serous and mucinous acini.
- This represents a rare instance of a cervical fistula caused by an ectopic salivary gland draining into a midline cystic neck lesion.
Implications:
- Recurrence of thyroglossal cysts should raise suspicion for ectopic salivary tissue.
- The presence of cystic neck tumors warrants consideration of ectopic salivary glands in the differential diagnosis.
