Oncocytoma of Palate: A Case Report, with an Emphasis on Immunohistochemistry

Oncocytomas are benign tumors of salivary glands, characterized histopathologically by large epithelial cells with bright and eosinophilic cytoplasm. They occur mostly in parotid glands, with only a small percentage of these tumors occurring in minor salivary glands of buccal, mucosa, palate, maxillary sinus, and tonsillar fossa. They occur primarily in people older than 50 years and generally have a female predilection. Few authors have suggested that oncocytomas of minor salivary glands are more aggressive in nature in comparison to their major salivary gland counterparts. An exhaustive literature review of English language literature revealed 20 cases of minor salivary glands; hence, the present case is 21st case of minor salivary gland oncocytoma. We report a case of palatal oncocytoma in a 31-year-old male which was provisionally diagnosed as pleomorphic adenoma and also describe the immunohistochemical characteristics of this rare tumor of minor salivary glands.