[Tumors of the ceruminous glands]

Tumours originating from the ceruminous glands can be classified into five types: adenomas, adenocarcinomas, adenoid-cystic carcinomas, pleomorphic adenomas and mucoepidermoid carcinomas. The diagnosis is based on histological findings and can be quite difficult if the tumour status has to be determined. Classification into one of the five types of tumours may be facilitated at times by studying the clinical pattern. Three case reports are quoted as examples to illustrate that neoplasias originating from the ceruminous glands can assume considerable proportions and must be considered in differential diagnosis when assessing space-occupying growths in the soft tissue of the neck. Whereas prognosis of adenomas and pleomorphic adenomas can be considered to be good, it must be regarded as likely to be infaust in the case of adenocarcinomas, adenoid-cystic carcinomas and mucoepidermoid carcinomas. The use of cytostatics resulted in a marked reduction of the tumour in one of the described cases of adenocarcinoma.