Jiin Kim; Hye Jung Cho; Young-Suk Cho; Kyung-Hwa Lee & Kwang Il Nam

Ectopic salivary tissue is salivary gland tissue located outside its normal anatomical sites, either as a complete gland or unorganized tissue. This report presents a rare case of ectopic salivary gland tissue found deep in the neck adjacent to the trachea, notably without thyroid and parathyroid tissues at their usual anatomical locations. During the cadaveric dissection of a 96-year-old Korean female, a butterfly-shaped, hemi-lobed mass measuring 4.7 × 2.2 cm was observed on the right side of the trachea, encircling the cricoid cartilage and tracheal rings. Macroscopically, the mass exhibited a smooth, red-brown surface, while histological analysis revealed well-developed serous acini, ductal structures, and significant adipose tissue infiltration. Immunohistochemical staining with specific thyroid and parathyroid tissue markers—thyroglobulin, thyroid transcription factor-1, calcitonin, and parathyroid hormone—demonstrated no reactivity, confirming their absence. This case study shows that ectopic salivary tissue should be recognized as a rare anatomical variant in order to ensure accurate diagnosis in anatomical studies and clinical practice.

KIM, J.; CHO, H. J.; CHO, Y. S.; LEE, K. H. & NAM, K. Il. Novel discovery of ectopic salivary tissue in thyroid and parathyroid absence: A case report with clinicopathological and developmental insights. Int. J. Morphol., 44(1):32-37, 2026.