Difficulty in establishing a diagnosis in an uncommon presentation of a minor salivary gland tumour.
We report the case of a man presenting with a large, airway obstructing, minor salivary gland tumour arising from the right tonsillar base. Clinically, the tumour behaved in a malignant way. A firm diagnosis of malignancy could not be made histologically. The differential diagnosis included polymorphous low-grade adenocarcinoma, basal cell adenoma and adenoid cystic carcinoma. However, on balance, based on the clinical presentation, a diagnosis of malignancy was favoured and appropriate treatment was considered. Because of the patient's co-morbidities, further surgery was not an option and it was agreed that the patient should undergo radiotherapy instead. While he was waiting for radiotherapy, the tumour went into remission.
ENT Department, Royal Cornwall Hospital, RCHT, Turo, UK. Bernhard.Attlmayr@rcht.cornwall.nhs.uk
Bernhard
B
Attlmayr
Consuelo
C
Garrido
David J
DJ
Alderson
D000236:Adenoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000209:etiology*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D001706:Biopsy; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004724:Endoscopy; D006801:Humans; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010166:Palliative Care; D012468:Salivary Gland Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D012470:Salivary Glands, Minor; D014059:Tongue / Q000473:pathology; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy; D014139:Tracheostomy
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor