A 51-year-old female presented with a one-year history of a slowly growing, painless swelling in the right parotid region. She is a non-smoker with no significant past medical, surgical, or drug history. On physical examination, she was classified as G1 (indicating a clinically mild glandular involvement).
A 51-year-old female presented with a one-year history of a slowly growing, painless swelling in the right parotid region. She is a non-smoker with no significant past medical, surgical, or drug history. On physical examination, she was classified as G1 (indicating a clinically mild glandular involvement).
Thyroid function tests showed a mildly elevated TSH (6.59 µIU/mL) with a normal free T4 (14.3 pmol/L), suggesting subclinical hypothyroidism. The anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody (ATPO) level was elevated (247 IU/mL), indicating an underlying autoimmune thyroid condition, possibly Hashimoto's thyroiditis.
A fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) of the right parotid gland nodule was performed, and cytology findings were consistent with a benign neoplasm (Category IVA of the Milan system), suggestive of a pleomorphic adenoma (benign mixed tumor of the salivary gland).
Given the increasing size of the right parotid gland nodule and the risk of malignant transformation in pleomorphic adenomas, the patient was scheduled for a right superficial parotidectomy. Additionally, a scalp cyst excision was planned as an incidental procedure.
Histopathology confirmed pleomorphic adenoma, with no evidence of malignancy.
The histopathology identified a pilar (trichilemmal) cyst, with no malignant features.
The patient had an uneventful postoperative recovery. Long-term follow-up was advised due to the potential for pleomorphic adenoma recurrence, although the surgical margins were clear. Endocrine follow-up was also recommended to monitor thyroid function and manage subclinical hypothyroidism, particularly given the presence of positive ATPO antibodies.