Angiomyolipoma of the parotid gland - A case report

Angiomyolipoma is a hamartomatous process that most frequently occurs as a single lesion or multiple foci in the kidneys of patients affected by tuber ous sclerosis. Angiomyolipoma can also arise in extrarenal sites, among whi ch the liver is the most frequently recorded. Only rare cases of angiomyoli poma located in the head and neck region tear and oral and nasal cavity) ha ve been described. The purpose of the present article is to report a case o f angiomyolipoma of the parotid gland. A 68-year-old woman appeared for tre atment with a slow-growing nodule located in her right parotid gland. Ultra sound examination revealed a heterogeneous nodule with well-defined margins . The nodule was surgically removed by total parotidectomy and showed the c haracteristic appearance of angiomyolipoma, with an admixture of fat smooth muscle cells, and tortuous, thick-walled blood vessels. Careful physical e xamination of the patient failed to reveal features of tuberous sclerosis. Angiomyolipoma should be considered in the differential diagnosis of mesenc hymal lesions involving the salivary gland.