Malignant oncocytoma of a minor salivary gland: An unusual presentation atthe base of the tongue

In contrast to malignant oncocytomas of the parotid gland, malignant oncocy tomas arising from minor extraparotid glandular tissue are rare. The latter may display a locally aggressive behaviour as well as a variable tendency to develop secondary cervical lymph nodes. We report a new case of malignan t oncocytoma in a 43-year-old man presenting with greatly enlarged cervical lymph nodes accompanied by a poorly defined swelling at the base of the to ngue microscopically identified as a malignant oncocytoma, The diagnosis wa s strongly supported by the ultrastructural features of the cells almost co mpletely filled with mitochondria. The cervical mass was excised, and the p atient has suffered no recurrence for nearly 2 yea rs after surgical treatm ent. Copyright (C) 2000 S. Karger AG, Basel.