[Basal cell adenoma of the parotid. Apropos of a case with an ultrastructural study]

A case of Basal cell adenoma occurring in a 42 year-old woman is reported. Histological examination showed trabeculae of basaloid cells with thick Basal Membrane at the periphery. By Electron Microscopy most of the cells displayed numerous desmosomes and intracytoplasmic tonofilaments indicating epidermoid differentiation. In addition some glandular cells were observed. No myoepithelial cell were present. Electron Microscopy may be useful to differentiate basal cell adenoma from Adenoid cystic carcinoma which is made up of a majority of poorly differentiated cells.