Sialolipomas of minor salivary glands: A multi-institutional study and literature review

Sialolipoma is a rare histological variant of lipoma commonly misdiagnosed and composed of a proliferation of mature adipocytes with secondary entrapment of normal salivary gland tissue. The purpose of the present study is to report the clinicopathologic and immunohistochemical features of 10 new cases of sialolipomas in conjunction with a review of the literature.

A retrospective descriptive cross-sectional study was performed. A total of 54,190 biopsy records of oral and maxillofacial lesions from four oral and maxillofacial pathology services in Brazil were analysed. All cases of lipomas were reviewed, and clinical, demographic and histopathological data were collected of all cases compatible with sialolipomas. In addition, immunohistochemistry stains (AE1/AE3, CK7, 34βE12, S-100, HHF35, α-SMA and Ki-67) and a literature review based on a search of three electronic databases (PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus) were performed.

Among all lipomas reviewed, there were 10 cases of sialolipomas. The series comprised of 7 females (70.0%) and 3 males (30.0%), with a mean age of 46.1 ± 21.5 years (range: 11-71 years) and a 2.3:1 female-to-male ratio. The lower lip (n = 3, 30.0%) and tongue (n = 2, 20.0%) were the most common locations, presenting clinically as a nodule of slow growth and normal colour. Conservative surgical excision was the treatment in all cases. No recurrence was observed.

Sialolipomas are a rare histological variant of lipoma, affecting the salivary glands, mainly in the parotid gland and palate of female adults. Pathologists must recognise sialolipomas to avoid misdiagnoses with other lipomatous tumours that can affect salivary glands.