Heterotopic and Accessory Salivary Tissues

Abstract

Heterotopic salivary tissue is found where salivary glands are not normally placed or expected. Sites of predilection are in the neck, where the heterotopias appear to bear a relationship to the branchial apparatus, and within the mandible. Neoplastic transformation is unusual, especially so for the extraosseous heterotopias. This contrasts with accessory salivary tissue, which consists of detachments from a major salivary gland occurring along the external duct systems. Accessory salivary tissue is heir to all the diseases of the parent glands.