Perinatal salivary gland tumours (Embryomas)

Abstract

AbstractEpithelial salivary gland tumours presenting in the first month of life (perinatal tumours) are exclusively of major salivary gland origin and predominantly of the parotid gland. Approximately 25 per cent of these rare tumors have been histologically and/or biologically malignant. Except for an occasional pleomorphic and monomorphic adenoma, the majority of the tumors are proliferations suggesting a tumorous arrest of maturation of the salivary gland anlage, hence their designation as embryomas. A case report of an embryoma of the parotid is presented, accompanied by a review of the literature.