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Case Reports
. 2025 Jun 5;2025(6):rjaf382.
doi: 10.1093/jscr/rjaf382. eCollection 2025 Jun.

Sebaceous lymphadenoma of the parotid: a rare case report of an entity mimicking other salivary tumors

Amine Oussalem  1 , Zein A B El Hassene  1 , Bouchra Dani  1 , Malik Boulaadas  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Sebaceous lymphadenoma of the parotid: a rare case report of an entity mimicking other salivary tumors

Amine Oussalem et al. J Surg Case Rep. .

Abstract

Sebaceous lymphadenoma is a rare benign tumor of the salivary glands, with fewer than 50 cases reported worldwide. Its clinical and radiological resemblance to malignant tumors poses diagnostic challenges. A 35-year-old female presented with a slow-growing, painless left parotid mass persisting for 2 years. Ultrasonography revealed a well-circumscribed, hypoechoic nodule measuring 2.5 cm. Fine-needle aspiration cytology suggested a benign lymphoid lesion, but definitive diagnosis required histopathological examination post-superficial parotidectomy. Microscopic analysis showed proliferating sebaceous cells within lymphoid stroma, confirmed by immunohistochemistry (EMA+, CK7-). No recurrence was observed at 12-month follow-up. This case underscores the importance of histopathology in distinguishing sebaceous lymphadenoma from carcinomas (e.g. sebaceous carcinoma) or Warthin tumor, particularly in regions with limited molecular diagnostic resources. Despite its rarity, sebaceous lymphadenoma should be considered in differential diagnoses of parotid masses to avoid unnecessary aggressive treatments.

Keywords: differential diagnosis; parotid gland; rare benign tumor; salivary gland neoplasms; sebaceous lymphadenoma.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Preoperative photograph showing the sublobular swelling on the left side of the patient's face.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Axial contrast-enhanced CT scan demonstrating a well-defined, enhancing mass in the superficial lobe of the left parotid gland.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Coronal contrast-enhanced CT scan confirming the presence of an oval, homogeneous, enhancing lesion in the left parotid gland.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Macroscopic view of the excised tumor following superficial parotidectomy.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Postoperative photograph 6 months after surgery showing excellent healing and no signs of recurrence.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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