A PLGA is a low-grade malignancy, first described by Evans and Batsakis
41 as a malignant tumour arising in the minor salivary glands; the condition was previously considered to be a lobular carcinoma or a terminal duct carcinoma. PLGA constitutes around 19–26% of the malignant tumours of the minor salivary glands
5, developing most commonly in the hard palate, principally at the base of the tongue
6. We here describe a PLGA in a rare location.
Histopathologically, a PLGA is characterised by cytologically uniform, anonymous round cells arranged in several architectural patterns (hence the polymorphous descriptor). The cell growth patterns include solid, trabecular, tubular, cribriform, microcystic, and papillary presentations. In the present case, tubular, trabecular, and cribriform growth patterns were evident among cells of the periphery.
Regional and distant metastases develop in 5–15% 7 and 0.6–7.5% 8 of patients, respectively. Therefore, elective neck dissection is not recommended when treating early T- stage tumours 9. The prognosis is relatively good and wide surgical resection is the recommended primary treatment. Any role for radiotherapy remains controversial. However, postoperative radiotherapy may be considered if the surgical margins are positive 8. We found no perioperative cervical lymphadenopathy; we thus considered that the condition was benign and did not perform neck dissection. We did not schedule radiotherapy because the surgical margins were negative upon postoperative histopathological examination.
Long-term follow-up is essential to prevent transformation of the condition into a high-grade malignancy, and to detect recurrence 10. We have followed-up the patient closely; there has been no recurrence to date, 1 year postoperatively.
)
)