THE SALIVARY GLAND ENIGMA: UNRAVELING RARE TUMOUR MYSTERIES

Salivary glands comprise of parotid glands found in front of and just below the ears, submandibular glands below the jaw, sublingual glands under the tongue and few minor salivary glands in upper aerodigestive tract. In spite of different locations, the glands share the same histology with acinar and ductal epithelial cells and myoepithelial cells. Salivary gland tumours are rare groups of complex heterogenous histology with wide range of tumour etiology, microscopy, growth patterns and tumour characteristics, which may be challenging to the pathologists. In this case series, we are presenting 3 cases of rare salivary gland tumours, mucoepideromoid carcinoma arising from Warthins tumour, Epithelial myoepithelial carcinoma presenting as multiple nodules around the parotid gland with H/O previous pleomorphic adenoma operated and Canalicular adenoma which is rare with our case having unique aspects like occurring in a younger age, bigger than average size reported, rare location in the parotid gland, cystic change and occurrence in a woman of Asian ethnicity.