A Very Rare Salivary Gland Tumor: Sialoblastoma

Abstract

Summary: Children seldom develop salivary gland tumors, which account for less than 5% of all salivary gland tumors. In total, 10%–15% of these neoplasms arise from the submandibular, sublingual, and small salivary glands, with the parotid gland accounting for the majority of cases. We describe a case of sialoblastoma in a 2-year-old female Ethiopian child who had a history of right cheek swelling gradually from birth. The mass had a firm consistency and was fungating in the center. In the right parotid gland and masticator space, a large lobulated irregular heterogeneously enhancing mass was discovered by magnetic resonance imaging. Fine needle aspiration cytology from the mass was suspicious of malignant salivary gland neoplasm. Radical parotidectomy and level I–IV neck lymph node dissection, followed by deltopectoral flap reconstruction, were done. The histopathology depicted sialoblastoma. When a parotid gland lesion is known to be congenital or is thought to be so, sialoblastoma should always be considered.