Abstract
Background: Salivary gland tumors are rare pathologies, accounting for around 6% of all head and neck tumors. They are located in the accessory salivary glands in 10 to 15%. Pleomorphic adenoma (PA) is the most common histological type. Our aim is to assess the particularities of extra-parotid PA localization and analyze its therapeutic results.
Methods: A retrospective study was conducted in the ENT department of Mohamed Taher Maâmouri Hospital in Tunisia between 2010 and 2023, collating all patients presenting with PA of extra-parotid location.
Results: All patients (14 cases) had a slow-growing, firm, painless swelling on examination. The submandibular gland and the hard palate were the most attractive sites (four and three cases respectively), followed by the nasal septum (two cases). MRI was suggestive of pleomorphic adenoma in five cases. Treatment was surgical, depending on location, submandibulectomy or total excision of the tumour with a healthy margin. Pathology showed AP in all cases. No malignant degeneration or recurrence was observed. Postoperative follow-up was uneventful.
Conclusions: Extraparotid PAs are rare and present a high risk of malignant degeneration and recurrence. They should be considered in the presence of various chronic indolent swellings of the head and neck. Long-term follow-up after treatment is essential to detect recurrence.
Keywords: pleomorphic adenoma, palate, parapharyngeal space, surgical, rare diseases
