A 55-year-old man presents to the otolaryngology clinic with a painless mass in the region of his right parotid gland. Imaging studies suggest a benign salivary gland tumor, and a biopsy reveals oncocytic cells.
Oncocytoma almost exclusively occurs in:
A. Submandibular salivary gland
B. Sublingual salivary gland
C. Parotid salivary gland
D. Accessory salivary gland
Answer:
The Correct Answer is: C. Parotid salivary gland
Explanation:
Parotid salivary gland (C):
– Oncocytomas are benign salivary gland tumors that almost exclusively occur in the parotid gland. These tumors are composed of oncocytes, which are epithelial cells characterized by an abundant granular, eosinophilic cytoplasm due to the presence of numerous mitochondria.
– The parotid gland is the most common site for oncocytomas, accounting for the vast majority of cases. They are rare in other salivary glands.
Explanation of Incorrect Options:
Submandibular salivary gland (A):
– Oncocytomas can occur in the submandibular gland, but this is very rare. The submandibular gland is more commonly affected by other types of tumors, such as pleomorphic adenomas and malignant tumors.
Sublingual salivary gland (B):
– Oncocytomas are extremely rare in the sublingual gland. The sublingual gland is less commonly involved in salivary gland tumors in general.
Accessory salivary gland (D):
– While oncocytomas can theoretically occur in accessory salivary glands, these occurrences are exceedingly rare. Accessory salivary glands are more often involved in minor salivary gland tumors.
In conclusion, oncocytoma almost exclusively occurs in the parotid salivary gland, making option C the correct answer.