Perspectives in Medical Research

Abstract

Introduction: Pleomorphic adenoma (PA) can be defined as a benign mixed tumor composed of epithelial and myoepithelial cells arranged in various morphological patterns, demarcated from surrounding tissues by a fibrous capsule. Pleomorphic adenoma is the most common neoplasm encountered in major and minor salivary glands. Parotid gland is the most commonly affected of the major group, and palate is the most common site intra-orally, followed by lips and the cheeks. Other rare sites include floor of the mouth, parapharyngeal space, tonsil, pharynx and larynx. About 75% of these pleomorphic adenomas occur in the parotid gland and 25 % of them occur in the minor salivary glands. Pleomorphic Adenoma does not generally have gender predilection and can occur at any age with the same clinical behavior. It is usually a benign round, slow-growing, painless tumor, which is firm upon palpation. We report a case of pleomorphic adenoma in a 43 year old female patient at an unusual site and a provisional clinical diagnosis of schwannoma was made. But histopathological examination of the excised swelling was turned out be pleomorphic adenoma.