Benign mixed tumour of heterotopic salivary gland tissue in upper neck. Report of a case with a review of the literature on heterotopic salivary gland tissue.

A case of benign mixed tumour arising in ectopic salivary gland tissue of the mucous type is described. The tumour was located at the angle of the right mandible, in the upper middle third of the neck, along the anterior border of the sternomastoid muscle. This observation is substantiated by a pathomorphological study. A comprehensive review of the world literature on heteroptic salivary gland tissue has also been carried out, together with a search of the possible pathogenesis which seems to be connected with an anomalous embryonic development within the branchial apparatus.