A rare case of chondroma of the parotid gland

Abstract

Chondroma of the parotid gland is a very rare tumor that consists of pure cartilage arising in the parotid gland with no admixture of epithelial and myoepithelial components. We have found only four cases of purely cartilaginous tumors arising in the parotid gland reported in literature. Here we report a case of pure chondroma arising from the parotid gland in a 39-year-old female. Fine needle aspiration and cytology was performed that was reported as a chondromyxoid matrix with a cluster of atypical epithelial cells consistent with an atypical lesion of uncertain significance. Histologic material demonstrated the origin of these cells to be chondrocytes and that the cytology correlated with the histologic appearance of an extraskeletal chondroma of the parotid gland. Morphologically very strict criteria are required to diagnose a parotid chondroma. The entire specimen should be submitted and examined at multiple levels to exclude a pleomorphic adenoma. Due to reports of a 5.5–25% recurrence rate of extraskeletal chondromas in general, as well as the remote possibility of malignant degeneration, wide local excision is recommended in such tumors. However, due to its rarity, no specific recommendations for management of parotid chondroma exist. Chondroma of the parotid gland is a very rare tumor that consists of pure cartilage arising in the parotid gland with no admixture of epithelial and myoepithelial components. We have found only four cases of purely cartilaginous tumors arising in the parotid gland reported in literature. Here we report a case of pure chondroma arising from the parotid gland in a 39-year-old female. Fine needle aspiration and cytology was performed that was reported as a chondromyxoid matrix with a cluster of atypical epithelial cells consistent with an atypical lesion of uncertain significance. Histologic material demonstrated the origin of these cells to be chondrocytes and that the cytology correlated with the histologic appearance of an extraskeletal chondroma of the parotid gland. Morphologically very strict criteria are required to diagnose a parotid chondroma. The entire specimen should be submitted and examined at multiple levels to exclude a pleomorphic adenoma. Due to reports of a 5.5–25% recurrence rate of extraskeletal chondromas in general, as well as the remote possibility of malignant degeneration, wide local excision is recommended in such tumors. However, due to its rarity, no specific recommendations for management of parotid chondroma exist.