An oncocytic mucoepidermoid carcinoma and an oncocytic pleomorphic adenoma occurred in a 47-year-old male and a 75-year-old female, respectively. Both presented as asymptomatic parotid gland masses without evidence of facial nerve paralysis and were treated by superficial parotidectomy. There has been no evidence of recurrence or metastasis. Oncocytic change is rare in major salivary gland mucoepidermoid carcinoma with only two previously reported cases. Marked oncocytic transformation of pleomorphic adenomas can cause their confusion with oncocytomas. Recognition of oncocytic differentiation in various salivary gland tumours is important to avoid misclassification of these lesions.

Chondromyxoid fibroma is a rare benign tumour whose histological appearance may easily be misinterpreted as chondrosarcoma. It has a tendency to recur locally unless completely excised. A rare case of the tumour affecting the nasal bone with extension into the frontal and ethmoidal sinuses and impingement on the cribiform plate is presented. Complete excision was achieved any the craniofacial resection approach.

The ability of superglue preparations (cyanoacrylate) to bond instantly to skin as well as inanimate objects presents a special problem when instilled into the external ear canal. We present two cases of patients who had it successfully removed under the microscope with the help of acetone BP to debond it from the skin, without any damage to the meatus or the tympanic membrane. The third patient had the superglue removed without the help of acetone but sustained damage to the tympanic membrane. A literature review of similar cases is included.

The authors present a case of Ramsay Hunt syndrome in whish the MRI appearance mimicked that of an intracanalicular acoustic neuroma.

Sialadenoma papilliferum is a rare, benign, exophytic tumour of the salivary glands. The prognosis is exceptionally good. Since the lesion was first described, 30 cases have been reported in the English literature. and only one of these is known to have recurred.

A case of sialadenoma papilliferum occurring in the buccal mucosa with recurrence three years after local excision, is presented. The literature is briefly discussed.

Malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) is a common neoplasm of soft tissue. The floor of the mouth is an unusual site of origin and has not been described in the literature previously. Its rarity, aspecific clinical symptoms and complex histopathology combine to make the diagnosis difficult. The treatment of choice is wide surgical excision with adjunctive irradiation.

Giant cell reparative granuloma (GCRG) is an uncommon benign lesion which has been reported at several sites in the head and neck. We present a case of a GCRG of the cricoid cartilage not previously described in the literature. It must be differentiated from the brown tumour of hyperparathyroidism and true giant cell tumours of bone. These were excluded on clinical, biochemical, radiological and histological grounds. The lesion responded well to surgical debulking and curettage and the patient remained disease-free 15 months after treatment.

Spindle cell carcinomas of the salivary gland are extremely rare, with only a few cases having been previously reported. We present a 55-year-old man with a rapidly enlarging mass in the left parotid gland. Despite radical surgery, the tumour recurred, and led to death 11 months later. Histopathologically, the tumour was composed of two components, a squamous cell carcinoma component and a spindle cell sarcomatoid component. A diagnosis of primary spindle cell carcinoma of the parotid gland was made. Immunohistochemical studies revealed keratin positivity and vimentin negativity in the squamous cell carcinoma component: the spindle cell sarcomatoid component was positive for vimentin and negative for keratin, but showed focal positivity for epithelial membrane antigen. The origin of the sarcomatoid component and the differential diagnosis from malignant mixed tumours are discussed.

Papillary carcinoma arising in a thyroglossal duct cyst is a rare finding. Less than 100 cases have been reported in the English literature. In most cases the diagnosis is only established after excision of a clinically benign thyroglossal duct cyst. The aetiology of such tumours is unclear but de novo origin and spread from a primary thyroid gland tumour has been suggested. This has important implications for therapeutic approaches. A further case of thyroglossal duct carcinoma is presented and the management is discussed on the basis of the current rationale for treatment of thyroid cancer.

Angiolympoid hyperplasia with cosinophilia is a rare benign condition that causes swellings in the head and neck. It is difficult to diagnose prior to biopsy and is frequently mistaken for a malignant tumoour. A case involving a 21-year-old man who presented with a 2 cm diameter fiborous lesion the subcutaneous tissue of the cheek is reported. The clinical and histological features are reviewed and the differences between this condition and the similar condition of Kimura's disease are discussed. Initial treatment with intralesional or sustemic steroids is suggested as this may avoid the need for excision.

The major salivary glands are considered to rarely be the sites of primary terminal duct adenocarcinomas, a neoplasm with a considerable predilection for origin from intraoral minor salivary glands. We present a clinicopathological study of 22 terminal duct adenocarcinomas of the parotid gland, the largest single series to date. A comparison between the parotid neoplasms and over 200 minor salivary gland terminal duct adenocarcinomas indicates there is little difference in biological behaviour and confirms the low-grade quality of the carcinomas, regardless of site of origin.

We report the previously undocumented development of an orbital metastasis and skin metastases in a patient with polymorphous low grade adenocarcinoma (PLGA) 15 years after initial presentation. The clinical course, treatment and changing histological features are discussed.

Solitary schwannomas are relatively rare. There has been only one previously reported case, in the English literature, of a schwannoma arising in the external auditory canal. We present a case which was managed by local excision and was unassociated with cochlear or retrocochlear pathology.