# Sialolipoma of the Parotid Gland: A Systematic Review

## TL;DR

This paper reviews sialolipoma of the parotid gland, a rare benign tumor, and highlights its characteristics, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis.

## Contribution

The study provides a systematic review of sialolipoma cases, emphasizing the importance of accurate diagnosis and long-term follow-up.

## Key findings

- Sialolipoma is a benign tumor with mature adipose tissue mixed with salivary gland components.
- Treatment typically involves superficial parotidectomy with facial nerve preservation.
- Recurrence is rare, but the exact recurrence rate remains unclear due to limited case numbers.

## Abstract

Sialolipoma of the parotid gland is an uncommon benign neoplasm of the salivary glands, characterized histologically by the presence of mature adipose tissue intermixed with non-neoplastic salivary gland components, and sometimes featuring oncocytic or reactive alterations. The clinical, histopathological, and immunohistochemical characteristics of this condition, coupled with its similarity to various other parotid lesions in differential diagnosis, underline the necessity for accurate identification, with treatment typically involving parotidectomy, usually superficial, and aimed at preserving the facial nerve. A systematic electronic search was performed up to September 2025 across the PubMed and Scopus databases using pertinent Medical Subject Headings, without imposing any time limitations. A total of 86 studies were retrieved with the keywords “sialolipoma” AND “parotid”. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, this systematic review includes 32 articles, which consist of 31 case reports and one retrospective descriptive study. The available evidence suggests an excellent prognosis, with recurrence being extremely rare, as only one recurrent case has been recorded. However, due to the small number of cases examined, the definitive recurrence rate is not well established, emphasizing the need for consistent follow-up to achieve more conclusive results.