A case of basal cell adenocarcinoma of the parotid gland

We present a 73-year-old female with an enlarged mass in the right parotid gland. Fine-needle aspiration cytology suggested pleomorphic adenoma. Diagn ostic imaging revealed that the tumour had a well-defined margin arising fr om the deep lobe of the parotid gland. A total parotidectomy with preservat ion of the facial nerve mas performed. The final histopathological diagnosi s including immunohistochemical studies was basal cell adenocarcinoma, whic h is a recently defined entity and a rare epithelial neoplasm. No sign of l ocal recurrence or metastasis 24 months postoperatively has been observed. (C) 1998 Tohoku University Medical Press.