A Very Rare Salivary Gland Tumor: Sialoblastoma

Abstract

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.