Myoepithelioma of the parotid gland: a case report

Abstract

Myoepitheliomas are rare tumours of the salivary glands and make up less than 1% of all salivary gland tumours. Unlike pleomorphic adenoma, these tumors lack any ductal epithelial differentiation, and manifest a minor stromal element. Most of these tumours are located in the parotid gland. Due to their infrequency and multiplicity of histopathology, myoepitheliomas present difficulties in diagnosis and classification. A 64- years-old female patient presented with a slow growing, painless mass in right parotid region. The patient underwent a right partial parotidectomy and the pathological diagnosis was benign myoepithelioma. Together with a review of the literature, considerations are presented on the clinical and pathological evaluation, differential diagnosis and treatment of these lesions.

Keywords

• salivary gland neoplasms
• myoepithelioma
• parotid gland
• pathology.