Surgical excision of polymorphous adenocarcinoma in the left maxilla with mucocutaneous flap reconstruction

Abstract

Low-grade polymorphous adenocarcinoma is a malignant neoplasm of salivary glands with uncommon occurrence in the head and neck region, almost exclusively affecting minor salivary glands. While this condition has typical clinical pathological signs, it commonly presents low biological damage potential. The lesions occur more frequently among elderly females between the sixth and eighth decades of life, with a higher prevalence for the hard palate, soft palate and, most regularly, the upper lip and jugal mucosa. The clinical and histological differential diagnosis of this condition is between pleomorphic adenoma and adenoid cystic carcinoma. The most indicated surgical treatment is extensive surgical excision, eventually including resection of the underlying bone. Although infrequent, there may be metastasis for regional lymph nodes. Radical dissection of the neck is not indicated unless there is clinical evidence of cervical metastasis. The present study reports the case of surgical excision of polymorphous adenocarcinoma in the left maxillary tuberosity region. A 63-year-old white male patient sought the Maxillofacial Surgery and Traumatology Service at the Federal University of Pernambuco Clinics Hospital, complaining of a tumor-like lesion in his left maxilla, which gradually increased in volume. The patient further reported a history of surgery ten years before for removal of a tooth in the same region, upper left arch. Given the extent and complexity of the lesion, the surgical treatment in this case consisted of hemimaxillectomy.