'Metastasizing pleomorphic salivary adenoma' should now be considered a low-grade malignancy with a lethal potential.
OBJECTIVE
To review the current knowledge on the clinical entity of metastasizing pleomorphic adenoma.


RESULTS
Using case studies, the literature continues to explore the potential to identify a chromosomal abnormality that might explain the clinical entity, and may constitute a submicroscopic malignant transformation with molecular genetic alterations. Presently there are no agreed histopathological parameters that can identify or confirm a difference in behavior between the 'common' pleomorphic adenoma from the metastasizing pleomorphic adenoma.


CONCLUSIONS
The evidence supports that metastasizing pleomorphic adenoma is most likely to be an unrecognized and as yet unclassified malignant neoplasm and as such must be considered a low-grade, potentially lethal malignant disease when it presents, which may constitute a submicroscopic malignant transformation with molecular genetic alterations. Further research is required to answer the many questions.
Bradley
Patrick J
PJ
Heas and Neck Oncologic Surgeon, University Hospital, Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham NG7 2UH, England. pjbradley@zoo.co.uk
D008949:Adenoma, Pleomorphic / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D012468:Salivary Gland Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*