A Parotid Mass Mimicking a Benign Tumor: Acinic Cell Carcinoma in an Adolescent
Keywords:
Acinic cell carcinoma; Parotid gland; Adolescent; MRI; Parotidectomy; Case report.Abstract
Background: Acinic cell carcinoma (AciCC) is an uncommon salivary gland malignancy and is exceptional in adolescents. Because it typically grows slowly and often remains painless, it may closely mimic a benign parotid tumor.
Case: A 16-year-old girl presented with a painless right infra-auricular swelling present for 4 years. MRI (T1-weighted and fat-suppressed T2 sequences) revealed a well-circumscribed lesion in the tail of the right parotid gland (17 × 16 × 21 mm), hypointense on T1 and hyperintense on fat-suppressed T2, with preserved surrounding fat planes and no cervical lymphadenopathy. She underwent a superficial (lateral) parotidectomy (exofacial approach) with facial nerve preservation. Histopathology confirmed low-grade AciCC with negative margins and no lymphovascular or perineural invasion. A transient postoperative House–Brackmann grade III facial palsy resolved within two weeks. At 18 months, there was no evidence of recurrence. Conclusion: In adolescents, a clinically benign-appearing parotid mass may still represent a low-grade malignancy. MRI helps with surgical planning but remains non-specific; definitive diagnosis relies on histopathology, and long-term follow-up is essential.
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Copyright (c) 2026 K. Hjaouj, T. Cheikh Ahmed, M. Mekkaoui, Z. Elhafi, Z. Arkoubi, R. Bencheikh, M.A. Benbouzid, L. Essakalli (Author)
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