Parotid Tumors in Pediatric Population: 10 Years of Experience

Oliva AR,

Published on: 2022-12-26

Abstract

Introduction: Salivary gland tumors are rare in the general population and comprise less than 3% of head and neck tumors. In pediatrics, 90% correspond to tumors of the parotid gland being mostly benign tumors. Objective: To describe the incidence of parotid tumors in a reference center, emphasizing the etiological variability and the presentation by age groups.

Materials and methods: This is a retrospective cohort study of patients under 18 years of age with parotid tumors over a period of 10 years: from 2011 to 2021, followed up at the Pediatric General Surgery Service of the Italian Hospital of Buenos Aires. All pediatric patients who presented tumors in the parotid region followed up or treated in this center were included, those who could not collect the data completely were excluded. The variables analyzed were age, sex, a form of presentation, complementary studies, type of treatment, histology, and complications.

Results: A total of 33 patients were analyzed, of which 64% (N = 21) were women, with a female/male ratio of 1.7. The mean age at diagnosis was 8.5 years, with 2 prenatal diagnoses and up to 18 years. The location was 57% (N = 19) left, and the remaining 43% right. The most frequent form of presentation was a palpable mass in the parotid region 75% (N=25), in two patients it was a finding in imaging studies: prenatal MRI and another by brain MRI.

Conclusions: In pediatrics, unlike the adult population, a wide variety of diagnoses are presented, ranging from vascular lesions to malignant tumors. Because malignant parotid lesions are clinically indistinguishable from benign ones, it is important to establish an accurate diagnosis. This series represents this etiological diversity in pediatrics, as well as the age distribution compared to that described in the literature.

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