Salivary Gland Path

Question 1

Xerostomia

Causes (4), Presentation (4)

Answer 1

Sjogren’s syndrome
Medications: anticholinergics, antihistamines, antidepressants

Dry mouth resulting in:
oral dysphagia
candida infections
oral caries

Question 2

Sialadenitis Presentations (4) and Viral Cause

Answer 2

Inflammation of the salivary glands
Mucoceles
Ranula (Wharton duct cyst)
Sialolithiasis

Main viral cause is Mumps

Question 3

Pleomorphic Adenoma

Prognosis, Genetics (1) Morphology (2) and Presentation (5)

Answer 3

Benign

PLAG1 Mutation

Biphasic: Ductal (epithelial) and Myoepithelial (mesenchymal) cells
Greatly heterogenous structure

Painless, slow growing, mobile masses in parotid or submandibular glands
*Most common parotid gland tumor

Question 4

Warthrin Tumor

Prognosis, Morphology (2) and Clinical Features(4)

Answer 4

Benign

Cystic spaces with double layer of lining epithelial cells on a lymphoid stroma

Males
Smokers
Almost exclusively in parotid glands
More likely to be bilateral

Question 5

Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma

Prognosis, Morphology (3) and Clinical Features (3)

Answer 5

Malignant (most common salivary malignancy)

Variable combination of squamous cells, mucus secreting cells and intermediate cells

Prognosis dependent on grade (low, intermediate, high)
Associated with MECT1-MAML2 fusion gene
Grow along nerves

Question 6

Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma

Prognosis, Morphology (4) and Clinical Features (3)

Answer 6

Malignant

Small
Poorly encapsulated
Gray-pink lesions
Look similar to cylindromas

Mostly in palatine glands
Poor prognosis due to high recurrence and wide metastasis

Question 7

Mucocele
Clinical Features (3), Morphology (4), Cause

Answer 7

Presents in otherwise healthy toddlers and elderly
More common in males
Most common salivary gland lesion

Non tender, bluish, fluctuant mass
Pseudocyst

Caused by trauma