Unusual location of the ectopic salivary glands – a case report

Abstract

Under the term „salivary heterotopia” we can distinguish 3 entities, which are accessory salivary glands, branchial cleft anomalies containing salivary gland tissue and finally heterotopic salivary gland tissue (HSGT). True HSGT is defined as presence of a normal salivary tissue outside of the major, minor, or accessory salivary glands, together with exclusion of clinical and histopathological features characteristic for branchial cleft anomalies. It is a rare condition, usually localized in the lower neck region. It is important to remember that it reacts with physiological saline-production stimulation and can be affected by all salivary glands’ disorders. In our article we would like to present a case of a 7-year-old boy presented with pedunculated, red, globular lesion in the right posterior tonsillar arch, which was diagnosed as an ectopic salivary gland.