METASTASIZING MALIGNANT ONCOCYTOMA OF THE SUBMANDIBULAR-GLAND

Malignant oncocytomas are extremely rare tumours of the salivary gland s. Fewer than 50 cases have been reported in the world literature so f ar, 34 of which were located in the parotid gland. Only three of these tumours have been located in the submandibular gland. We report one f urther case of a malignant oncocytoma of the submandibular gland in a 47-year-old man. Since a definite histological diagnosis of malignant oncocytoma can rarely be made both clinical and histopathological find ings are essential in establishing the diagnosis. Treatment consists o f wide surgical excision, neck dissection and post-operative radiother apy. The prognosis with regard to five-year survival is poor because o f metastatic disease.