BMJ Case Report from UHNM staff: Sialoblastoma: a malignant congenital salivary gland tumour

 BMJ Case Reports has published a report from UHNM staff Aaya Seedahmed, Adriel Roa-Bautista and Asha Shenvi:

Sialoblastoma: a malignant congenital salivary gland tumour

BMJ Case Rep. 2026 Apr 24;19(4):e270561. doi: 10.1136/bcr-2025-270561.

Authors

Aaya Seedahmed 1 , Adriel Roa-Bautista 2 , Asha Shenvi 3

Affiliations1 Maternity, University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust, Stoke-on-Trent, UK.
2 University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust, Stoke-on-Trent, England, UK.
3 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust, Stoke-on-Trent, England, UK asha.shenvi@uhnm.nhs.uk.PMID: 42031373
DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2025-270561

Abstract

Head and neck carcinoma is the sixth most common cancer worldwide and accounts for approximately 4% of all cancer cases, with incidence varying by subtype and anatomical location . Salivary gland tumours in childhood are rare, with an annual incidence of less than 1 per million, representing fewer than 10% of paediatric head and neck cancers. Although the annual incidence of paediatric salivary gland malignancies is less than 1 per million, a salivary gland neoplasm presenting in a child carries a 50-60% probability of malignancy, with sialoblastoma accounting for approximately 4% of all salivary gland tumours.We report the case of a term newborn who presented with a firm left infra-auricular swelling at birth. Initial ultrasound imaging revealed a well-defined, round lesion with homogeneous internal echogenicity and acoustic enhancement. Subsequent MRI of the neck demonstrated a well-circumscribed, solitary lesion within the left parotid gland. Histopathological examination revealed features consistent with a primary malignant salivary gland tumour, with morphology and immunophenotype suggestive of sialoblastoma. The newborn was treated with complete surgical excision and remained disease-free at 3 months post surgery.

Keywords: Head and neck cancer; Neonatal health; Paediatric oncology; Paediatrics.

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