A Case of Cystic Pleomorphic Adenoma in the Parotid Gland Misdiagnosed as an Epidermal Cyst

Park, So Hyun; Kim, Woo Jin; Shin, Dong Hoon; Choi, Jong Soo; Kim, Ki Hong

Abstract

Pleomorphic adenoma is the most common tumor to arise in the parotid gland, generally presenting as a slowly-enlarging, firm, well-circumscribed, painless nodule. In the dermatologic department, it can be clinically misdiagnosed as an epidermal cyst or various dermal or subcutaneous tumors. The vast majority of these tumors are solid, but a few examples have rarely been associated with cystic degeneration. Diagnosis and therapy become difficult, when the tumor undergoes cystic degeneration. We describe a 43-year-old man with a tender, cystic mass on the right cheek. Under an impression of an epidermal cyst, total surgical excision was done. Histopathological findings of the tumor mass revealed pleomorphic adenoma with cystic degeneration. There has been no evidence of recurrence in the following two years since the removal. In the dermatologic field, we emphasize that pleomorphic adenoma should be included in the diagnosis of tumors on the face.