Myoepithelioma of the Accessory Parotid Gland: A Case Report

Myoepithelioma is an extremely rare benign tumor of the salivary glands that poses a diagnostic challenge because its clinical, radiologic, and cytopathologic characteristics may resemble those of several other salivary gland tumors. Accessory parotid myoepithelioma is even rarer. A 24-year-old female patient presented with a five-year history of a gradually increasing, painless swelling in the right mid-cheek region. Clinical examination revealed a firm, well-demarcated, nontender swelling in the right mid-cheek region without evidence of facial nerve involvement. Ultrasonographic evaluation revealed a multilocular mass superior to the right parotid gland, and fine-needle aspiration cytology was suggestive of pleomorphic adenoma. The patient underwent superficial parotidectomy with complete excision of the tumor while preserving the facial nerve branches. Histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of myoepithelioma, demonstrating sheets and cords of myoepithelial cells within a collagenous stroma. The postoperative period was uneventful, with no recurrence or facial nerve dysfunction during the 2.5 years of follow-up. This report highlights the importance of including accessory parotid tumors in the differential diagnosis of cheek masses. Histopathological examination is essential for establishing a definitive diagnosis, and complete surgical excision remains the optimal management strategy.