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Updated: May 10, 2026

Retroductal Submandibular Gland Instillation and Localized Fractionated Irradiation in a Rat Model of Salivary Hypofunction
Published on: April 24, 2016
Ectopic salivary gland tissue in a Rathke's cleft cyst
Valentina Ranucci1, Antonella Coli, Eleonora Marrucci
1Department of Anatomic Pathology, Catholic University, Rome, Italy.
Abstract:
The presence of salivary gland tissue in the sella turcica has rarely been reported, mainly after pituitary examination at autopsy. Only five symptomatic cases have previously been described, mainly associated with Rathke's cleft cyst. We report a 17-year-old boy presenting with headaches and hyperprolactinemia. The MRI showed a 19 mm sellar mass that at surgery revealed as a cystic lesion filled with mucinous fluid. The histological examination documented the presence of ectopic salivary gland tissue in the wall of a Rathke's cleft cyst. The present report focuses on the possible pitfalls when dealing with unusual sellar lesions, and the need of increased awareness of this rare condition.
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