Sialoblastoma of the Minor Salivary Glands: A Case Report

Sialoblastoma is a rare malignant epithelial tumor of the salivary glands, predominantly affecting children, with approximately 60 cases reported in the literature. It most commonly involves the parotid gland but may also arise from the submandibular and minor salivary glands. Clinically, it usually presents as a painless mass, with metastatic potential being uncommon.

We report the case of a 9-year-old girl, otherwise in good general health, presenting with a painless solid mass in the buccal mucosa. Diagnostic evaluation included fine-needle aspiration, incisional biopsy, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) imaging. The lesion was surgically excised, and the resulting defect was reconstructed using a Bichat's fat pad flap. Histopathological examination confirmed sialoblastoma originating from the minor salivary glands.

Complete surgical excision with clear margins was achieved. Postoperative follow-up with MRI and chest X-rays demonstrated no evidence of recurrence or metastasis. No adjuvant therapy was required given the complete resection and favorable histological features.

Pediatric sialoblastoma is extremely rare, and evidence regarding management is limited. Complete surgical resection with clear margins remains the gold standard. Although recurrence occurs in approximately 25% of cases, early diagnosis and intervention are associated with excellent prognosis, with a reported 5-year survival rate of 95.5%. Chemotherapy or radiotherapy is reserved for advanced or recurrent cases due to potential long-term adverse effects.

The rarity of sialoblastoma limits the development of standardized diagnostic and therapeutic protocols. Treatment should be individualized based on patient and tumor characteristics; however, surgical excision remains the cornerstone of management.