1. Epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma of the parotid gland, unusual malignancy radiologically simulating a benign lesion: case report
- Author
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Salvatore Donato, Alessia Catalucci, Irene Piscioli, Franca Del Nonno, Zorika Christiana Di Rocco, Andrea Falzone, Stefano Licci, Marinella Neri, and Luca Morelli
- Subjects
Pathology ,medicine.medical_specialty ,medicine.diagnostic_test ,Salivary gland ,Adenoid cystic carcinoma ,business.industry ,Magnetic resonance imaging ,medicine.disease ,Malignancy ,Epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma ,Parotid gland ,Pleomorphic adenoma ,medicine.anatomical_structure ,Oncology ,stomatognathic system ,Surgical oncology ,medicine ,Commentary ,Surgery ,business - Abstract
Background Ultrasound (US), Computed Tomography (CT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) are widely used in the clinical diagnosis of parotid gland tumors and their efficacy in identifying benign lesions is well documented. However, problems arise when facing some malignant lesions. Only few cases of salivary gland low grade malignant tumors have been previously reported in the literature complete with the radiological features. Case presentation We here describe a case of epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma (EMC) of the parotid gland, a low grade malignant tumor, with spread to an intraparotid lymph node and with CT and MRI findings mimicking a benign lesion. Conclusion All the images revealed sharply outlined profiles and a homogeneous enhancement of the nodule, suggesting a benign tumor and demonstrating that a radiological evaluation of the lesion alone may be unsatisfactory and misleading in the diagnosis of salivary gland tumours, especially in the case of low grade malignant tumors, such as EMC.
- Published
- 2007