title: [Malignant mixed tumor].
abstract: The term "malignant mixed tumor" is usually synonymous with "carcinoma in pleomorphic adenoma," a secondary carcinoma developing in pre-existing pleomorphic adenoma. However, it sometimes indicates a group of tumors consisting of carcinoma in pleomorphic adenoma, carcinosarcoma (true malignant mixed tumor) and metastasizing benign mixed tumor, the latter 2 being the most infrequent. According to the data of the Japanese committee on TNM classification for salivary gland carcinomas, carcinoma in pleomorphic adenoma accounted for about 10% of all salivary gland carcinomas, both in the parotid and submandibular glands. The main type of carcinomas arising in pleomorphic adenoma were undifferentiated carcinoma, adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. Crude 5- and 10-year survival rates were 54.7% and 42.7%, respectively. Invasive carcinomas and carcinomas of high grade malignancy carried worse prognoses. The treatment of choice for carcinoma in pleomorphic adenoma has consisted of en-bloc excision with wide margin. Invasive growth, facial nerve involvement, lymph node metastasis or high-grade malignant tumor are grounds for postoperative radiation therapy. The role of chemotherapy has not yet been well established.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Otorhinolarygology, Chiba National Hospital, 4-1-2 Tsubakimori, Chuo-ku, Chiba 260-8606, Japan.
authors.forename: Tsutomu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Numata
authors.forename: Kiyoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hiruma
authors.forename: Tomoko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tsukuda
authors.forename: Takanori
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Asano
mesh_terms: D008949:Adenoma, Pleomorphic / Q000175:diagnosis; D002296:Carcinosarcoma / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D018198:Mixed Tumor, Malignant / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D012468:Salivary Gland Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy