A Case of Heterotopic Salivary Gland in the Neck Mimicking a Brachial Cleft Anomaly

Author: Seok Hwa KO ¹ ; Seong Man HONG ; Yong Bae JI
Author Information

1. Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea
Publication Type:Case Report
From:Korean Journal of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery 2023;66(3):203-206
CountryRepublic of Korea
Language:Korean
Abstract: Heterotopic salivary gland tissue (HSGT) consists of salivary tissue in places where it does not normally exist. Usually, HSGT presents as a draining sinus or nodule of the neck. The pathogenesis of HSGT of the neck remains uncertain. But HSGT in the neck is most widely thought to arise from defective closures and ectodermal hetroplasia of the precervical sinus of His. HSGT in the neck is rare and only a few cases have been reported in Korea. We recently experienced a case of HSGT in the neck presenting as a fistula of the anterior lower neck. We thought this as a 2nd brachial cleft anomaly; however, biopsy revealed HSGT. HSGT in the neck should be considered as one of the causes of a neck mass or fistula in children. Herein, we report this case of HSGT with a literature review.