title: Salivary mucinous adenocarcinoma of the mandible.
abstract: Mucinous adenocarcinoma (MAC) is a malignancy rarely affecting the salivary glands, with fewer than 30 cases described in the medical literature. MAC is mostly observed in the minor salivary glands of the palate, and to date, no case of salivary MAC has been reported in the mandible. Identifying a salivary MAC may be both clinically and histopathologically challenging, as differential diagnosis must consider not only other salivary malignancies expressing a mucinous component but also metastases from MACs of the gastrointestinal tract, breast, and sweat glands that strongly resemble a salivary MAC on histopathology. We describe an 80-year-old man with a gingival overgrowth of the left mandible for the past 9 months, who was referred to our institution with an initial diagnosis of a periodontal reaction. On clinical examination, the mass mimicked a hyperplastic lesion; but after biopsy, the histopathologic pattern suggested a diagnosis of MAC. Herein, we present how comprehensive physical examination of the patient, immunohistochemistry study of the specimen, and radiological features helped in establishing the diagnosis of intraosseous salivary MAC, ruling out metastatic disease or other salivary neoplasms.
authors.affiliation: Unit of Maxillo-Facial Surgery, Ospedale Regionale Generale "F. Miulli", Strada Prov. 127 km 4,100, 70021, Acquaviva Delle Fonti, BA, Italy. micdeben2002@libero.it.
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Benedittis
authors.affiliation: Unit of Maxillo-Facial Surgery, Ospedale Regionale Generale "F. Miulli", Strada Prov. 127 km 4,100, 70021, Acquaviva Delle Fonti, BA, Italy.
authors.forename: Alice
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Palmiotto
authors.affiliation: Unit of Maxillo-Facial Surgery, Ospedale Regionale Generale "F. Miulli", Strada Prov. 127 km 4,100, 70021, Acquaviva Delle Fonti, BA, Italy.
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Turco
authors.affiliation: School of Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Bari, Piazza G. Cesare 11, 70100, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Petruzzi
authors.affiliation: Unit of Maxillo-Facial Surgery, Ospedale Regionale Generale "F. Miulli", Strada Prov. 127 km 4,100, 70021, Acquaviva Delle Fonti, BA, Italy.|School of Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Bari, Piazza G. Cesare 11, 70100, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cortelazzi
mesh_terms: D002288:Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible; D037981:Neck Dissection; D012468:Salivary Gland Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor
keywords: Gingival neoplasm; Immunohistochemistry; Intraosseous; Mucinous adenocarcinoma; Salivary glands