title: Malignant myoepithelioma arising from recurrent pleomorphic adenoma of the soft palate.
abstract: Malignant myoepithelioma is a rare salivary gland neoplasm that can arise either de novo or within a pre-existing pleomorphic adenoma. We report a case of malignant myoepithelioma arising from a pleomorphic adenoma of the soft palate. A 70-year-old woman presented in our department with a very large tumor of the soft palate. The patient had a history of a pleomorphic adenoma at the same location that was surgically removed 2 years ago. A second operation, with intraoral excision of the tumor was performed. Histological examination of the recurrence revealed a malignant spindle cell neoplasm with an infiltrative growth pattern and a high mitotic rate. Immunohistochemical investigation confirmed the diagnosis of a low-grade carcinoma of myoepithelial origin with free surgical margins. The patient remains free of disease for more than twelve months after the end of treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Crete School of Medicine, Heraklion, Crete, Greece.
authors.forename: Alexandros D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Karatzanis
authors.forename: Emmanouil I
authors.initials: EI
authors.lastname: Drivas
authors.forename: Elpida S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Giannikaki
authors.forename: Vasilios A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Lachanas
authors.forename: John K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Hatziioannou
authors.forename: George A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Velegrakis
mesh_terms: D008949:Adenoma, Pleomorphic / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009208:Myoepithelioma / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010160:Palate, Soft / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D010610:Pharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D012468:Salivary Gland Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery