title: A case of myoepithelioma mimicking a parotid cyst.
abstract: Myoepithelioma is an uncommon tumor of the myoepithelial cells that is considered to represent a distinct category of tumor by the World Health Organization. It accounts for less than 1% of all tumors that develop in the salivary glands. We describe the case of a 35-year-old woman who presented to us with a painless swelling on the right side of her face. She was diagnosed with a parotid gland cyst by ultrasonography and computed tomography. Following excision of the mass, however, the pathology report identified the tumor as a solid myoepithelioma. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of a myoepithelioma that exhibited cystic features on radiologic examination even though it had a solid architecture. We also discuss the preoperative diagnostic aspects of the myoepitheliomas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Sıhhiye, Ankara, 06100 Turkey. halonka@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Haldun Onuralp
authors.initials: HO
authors.lastname: Kamburoğlu
authors.forename: Aycan U
authors.initials: AU
authors.lastname: Kayıkçıoğlu
authors.forename: Çiğdem
authors.initials: Ç
authors.lastname: Himmetoğlu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003560:Cysts / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009208:Myoepithelioma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D010307:Parotid Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology