Accessory Salivary Tissue

Epidemiology

In the embryo, the parotid gland appears as an elongation developing from the buccal epithelium. The main portion of this elongation persists as the parotid duct; the proximal end becomes the opening of the parotid duct whereas the distal end branches repeatedly to form the parotid gland. The accessory parotid gland is separate from the main parotid gland and develops superior to the main parotid duct. Minor salivary glands can also be seen along the parotid duct and in the buccal space.

Clinical Findings

Small lesions are asymptomatic and are detected incidentally on scans performed for unrelated reasons. The most common presentation is a painless cheek mass. The lesion feels soft and nontender. However, tumors and infections may involve the minor salivary glands and present clinically as a cheek mass.