Epithelial myoepithelial carcinoma in an ectopic salivary gland: A diagnostic dilemma

Abstract

The ectopic Salivary Gland is the presence of salivary tissue in unusual locations which do not normally host it. Moreover, neoplasms arising from these ectopic tissues are very rare, however, tumourigenic changes in these inclusions have been observed in a few cases.We present a clinically unsuspected case of an ectopic salivary gland tissue present on the mid-neck, which was diagnosed as Small lymphocytic leukaemia outside Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Aligarh. On further evaluation, a definitive diagnosis of epithelial myoepithelial carcinoma arising in ectopic salivary gland tissue within the cervical lymph node was made. Therefore, these tumours need to be included in the differential diagnosis of neck masses, for a prompt diagnosis and adequate treatment.