Multiple synchronous tumours of different histological type of the salivary glands

Multiple tumours of different histological type of the salivary glands are extremely rare. Here we report a 72-year-old woman who was diagnosed with simultaneously occurring Warthin's tumour of the left parotid and mixed tumour of the homolateral submandibular gland. To our knowledge this combination of histology and localization has not been reported previously. This case also illustrates the importance of thorough examination even after the identification of a single tumour, as multiple synchronous primary tumours--even if rare--can be a diagnostic possibility.