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. RESUMO O adenocarcinoma polimorfo de baixo grau é uma neoplasia maligna das glândulas salivares incomum em região de cabeça e pescoço, ocorre quase exclusivamente em glândulas salivares menores. Entretanto essa patologia apresenta sinais clínico patológicos próprios e baixo potencial biológico. A lesão ocorre com maior frequência em indivíduos idosos do gênero feminino, entre a sexta e oitava década de vida, com maior prevalência para as regiões do palato duro, palato mole, sendo o lábio superior e a mucosa jugal as outras localizações mais comuns. O diagnóstico diferencial tanto clínico quanto histológico é feito com o adenoma pleomórfico e o carcinoma adenoide cístico. O tratamento cirúrgico mais indicado é a excisão cirúrgica ampla, incluindo algumas vezes a ressecção do osso subjacente. Podem ocorrer metástases para os linfonodos regionais, porém são incomuns. A dissecção radical do pescoço não está indicada a me