Acinic cell carcinoma of the parotid gland in pregnancy: an approach to cancer in pregnancy

A 27-year-old woman presented with an enlarging painless right preauricular mass at 28 weeks' pregnant. The mass had been stable for more than 10 years, but showed rapid growth during pregnancy. Imaging and biopsy were consistent with parotid gland malignancy, with surgical resection undertaken at 33+4 weeks' gestation. Histopathology confirmed acinic cell carcinoma. Labour was induced without complication at 36+6 weeks' gestation and adjuvant radiotherapy commenced 2 weeks postpartum. At 9 months follow-up, both mother and baby were well, with no signs of disease recurrence. Rapid progression in pregnancy, of a previously stable salivary gland mass, is a common feature among reported cases and was also observed in the current case. This suggests an aetiological link between pregnancy and salivary gland tumour progression. We demonstrate successful management of a parotid gland malignancy in pregnancy and review guiding principles for cancer management in pregnancy.

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