Sialoblastoma and epithelial tumors in children: their morphologic spectrum and distribution by age.

This commentary addresses the histologic spectrum of salivary gland neoplasms in children with emphasis on perinatal tumors. Histopathologically, perinatal tumors fall into four categories: 1) histologically benign with adult counterpart, 2) hamartomas 3) embryomas-sialoblastomas, and 4) histologically and biologically malignant adult analogue tumors. Although the criteria to serrate benign from malignant sialoblastomas are not well-established, the following histologic features would favor an aggressive clinical course: perineural and/or vascular spaces invasion, necrosis, and a cytologic atypia beyond the expected for embryonic epithelium.