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Updated: Apr 16, 2026
Author Spotlight: A Focus on Standardized Salivary Gland Ultrasound Protocol in Connective Tissue Disease Research
Published on: October 13, 2023
Intrasellar Symptomatic Salivary Gland Rest with Inflammations
Yusuke Tanaka1, Atsuhiko Kubo1, Junichi Ayabe1
1Department of Neurosurgery, Yokosuka Kyosai Hospital, Yokosuka city, Kanagawa, Japan.
Background:
Instances of ectopic salivary gland tissue within the pituitary gland are rare, they are mostly asymptomatic, and the underlying pathophysiology of symptomatic cases is unclear. We report a case of intrasellar salivary gland rest that presented clinical symptoms and clearly related to inflammatory changes.
Case Description:
In the present case, headache, bitemporal hemianopia, and hormone abnormality led to the detection of ectopic salivary gland tissue within the pituitary gland of a 24-year-old man. Imaging revealed a well-circumscribed intrasellar cystic lesion having a diameter of major axis of 16 mm, for which tumorectomy was performed using the nasal approach. The tumor was cystic with stringy content. Pathologic findings revealed that the lesion was composed principally of secretions lacking cell components, whereas the salivary gland tissue was found in the cyst wall. Dilated ducts due to the leakage of secretions were also observed. Acute and chronic inflammation was present around the salivary gland.
Conclusions:
Not only are instances of symptomatic ectopic salivary glands rare, but this was also the first case detected to be caused by the pathophysiology involving the leakage of secretions from an ectopic salivary gland and associated inflammation. We report this case to help elucidate the pathophysiology of the condition.
