title: Polymorphous low-grade adenocarcinoma--a rare and aggressive entity in adolescence.
abstract: Polymorphous low-grade adenocarcinoma (PLGA) is an uncommon tumour that usually affects the minor salivary glands, particularly in the palate. It is rare in young patients, and here we report a case in a teenage girl. She presented at the age of 16, although the lesion had been noticed 2 years previously. The tumour showed histopathological features of PLGA, but recurred locally, behaved aggressively, and ultimately metastasised to cervical lymph nodes. This was accompanied by an altered histological picture, with a papillary cystic pattern and necrosis becoming progressively more prominent. PLGA is not always a low-grade lesion and some tumours, notably those with a papillary cystic growth pattern, may require more aggressive treatment.
authors.affiliation: Maxillofacial Unit, University College Hospital, London WC1E 6AU, UK. deepimahesh@hotmail.com
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Stivaros
authors.forename: A W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Barrett
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bounds
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Newman
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000473:pathology* / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery; D000293:Adolescent; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008441:Maxillary Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery; D037981:Neck Dissection; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D010157:Palatal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D021362:Palate, Hard / Q000473:pathology