Salivary Gland Secretory Carcinoma in the Facial Region: A Pediatric Case Presentation

Salivary gland secretory carcinoma (SC) represents a rare, slow-growing, low-grade malignant neoplasm that occurs mainly in the parotid gland. It has a slight predilection for the male gender and usually appears in adulthood. The morphologic and immunohistochemical features are like those observed in secretory breast carcinoma; however, it has been described as a distinct salivary gland tumor. Its clinical characteristics remain nonspecific and therefore can be misdiagnosed. This report describes a 12-year-old patient who presented with a slow, progressive, painless, and deforming mass at the level of the left lower third of the face, of eight months' evolution. After clinical and imaging evaluation, an excisional biopsy was performed. The sample was sent for histopathological study, which reported salivary gland SC. Although this condition typically presents in adults, it can occur in children, and it is important to consider it among the neoplasms that can occur at this age.