Familial mixed tumors of the parotid gland.
BACKGROUND
The most common neoplasm of the parotid gland is the pleomorphic adenoma. The familial occurrence of such tumors arising within the parotid gland is rare, with only 3 previous reports in the literature. Bilateral synchronous pleomorphic adenomas of the parotid gland are also uncommon. We report 2 siblings with pleomorphic adenomas of the parotid gland, 1 of whom had bilateral synchronous mixed tumors. Patients and Methods Chromosomal analysis of tumor cells from the sibling with bilateral adenomas revealed the translocation t(3;12)(p21;q15). Chromosome 12q breakpoints have previously been identified in a wide variety of solid tumors including pleomorphic adenomas of the parotid gland.


CONCLUSIONS
We discuss bilateral mixed tumors, familial parotid tumors, and the potential for a genetic predisposition for the recurrence of such parotid tumors, as suggested by characteristic chromosomal translocations associated with mixed tumors.
Ahn
M S
MS
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, 400 Parnassus Ave, Suite A730, San Francisco, California 94117, USA.
Hayashi
G M
GM
Hilsinger
R L
RL
Lalwani
A K
AK
D008949:Adenoma, Pleomorphic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D002881:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 12; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000235:genetics; D010307:Parotid Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D014178:Translocation, Genetic