Secretory carcinoma in the parotid gland of a pediatric patient. A challenging diagnosis

Abstract

Secretory carcinoma is a rare, recently identified and recognized neoplasm in major salivary glands. Few cases have been described with only 16 pediatric cases in the literature. We present a case preoperatively identified as a benign parotid lesion whose management was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Post enucleation of the lesion, histology identified a secretory carcinoma. This led to further and more extensive surgery to ensure complete removal. Clinicians and histopathologists should be aware of secretory carcinoma in their differential, as a high index of suspicion is required to ensure appropriate investigations are performed to obtain the diagnosis. Early identification is important to allow timely appropriate surgery to be performed.