An Unusual Case of an Extra-salivary Subcutaneous Multifocal Pleomorphic Salivary Adenoma

TL;DR

A 36-year-old woman had multiple rare subcutaneous tumors diagnosed as pleomorphic salivary adenomas, which originated outside the salivary glands.

Contribution

This case reports a rare extrasalivary, multifocal presentation of pleomorphic salivary adenoma.

Findings

MRI and histopathology confirmed subcutaneous lesions as pleomorphic salivary adenomas.

Lesions were superficial to the parotid capsule and lacked associated salivary gland tissue.

The patient remains disease-free after surgical excision and is under routine surveillance.

Abstract

A 36-year-old woman was referred to the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery clinic at Pinderfields Hospital, Wakefield, with multiple subcutaneous swellings on the right side of the face, overlying the parotid region and extending below the mandibular border. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed several macrocystic subcutaneous lesions, and ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration confirmed a diagnosis of pleomorphic salivary adenoma (PSA). The lesions were excised via a modified Blair incision and were found to be superficial to the parotid capsule. Histopathological evaluation showed myxoid-rich PSAs without any associated salivary gland tissue, confirming an extrasalivary origin.

This case illustrates a rare presentation of multifocal, subcutaneous PSAs occurring independently of the parotid gland. The patient remains disease-free and continues under routine surveillance for potential recurrence.

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