Nasopharyngeal polymorphous low-grade adenocarcinoma in a patient with nonfunctioning pituitary macroadenoma.
BACKGROUND
Polymorphous low grade adenocarcinoma (PLGA) is a rare malignant neoplasm of the minor salivary glands occurring in the fifth and sixth decade with a 2:1 female predominance. The nasal cavity is involved in less than 1% of cases. The incidence of clinically recognisable pituitary adenoma is 15 cases/million/year. The prevalence of non-functioning pituitary adenoma (NFPA) is estimated to be 70-90 cases/million. Both types of adenoma represent 20-45% of pituitary tumours.


METHODS
The report describes the first case of PLGA associated with NFPA, both incidentally diagnosed. Three months after the exeresis of the NFPA using a trans-sphenoidal approach, an endoscopic resection of the PLGA was performed. No recurrence was observed during a 13 months follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
Complete surgical excision is the preferred management for PLGA. Radiotherapy has not been demonstrated to be effective in treating PLGA. The prognosis is good with a very low rate of metastasis and local recurrence.
Garzaro
M
M
I ENT Clinic, Physiopathology Department, University of Turin, Turin, Italy. garz@libero.it
Pecorari
G
G
Landolfo
V
V
Campisi
P
P
Reali
A
A
Giordano
C
C
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D000236:Adenoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D009378:Neoplasms, Multiple Primary / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*