title: Recurrent pleomorphic adenoma of epipharynx following irradiation therapy.
abstract: We present a case of a 67-year-old female patient having a pleomorphic adenoma of epipharynx with intact fibrous capsula, which despite its benignity recurred and, moreover, responded quite well to irradiation therapy. The patient, at first, refused any therapy. Three years later, when the CT showed tumor enlargement she accepted only irradiation therapy, resulting in significant reduction of tumor size. Five years later the tumor recurred but without malignant transformation. She still refused surgery, but accepted re-irradiation therapy. After a three-year follow-up the patient has no symptoms of the tumor enlargement. This case shows that the irradiation therapy might be quite effective in the treatment of pleomorphic adenoma of epipharynx, but it is clear that much better results could be accomplished in combination with the surgery. In cases when the surgery is rejected or not possible because of the vicinity of the vital structures, we recommend the irradiation therapy as a therapy of the choice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia. gordanazamolo@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Gordana
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zamolo
authors.forename: Miran
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Coklo
authors.forename: Marija
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Petković
authors.forename: Tanja
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Batinac
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bosnar
authors.forename: Darko
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Manestar
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dekanić
authors.forename: Bozidar
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vojniković
mesh_terms: D008949:Adenoma, Pleomorphic / Q000473:pathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D012468:Salivary Gland Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed