A Rare Case of Pleomorphic Adenoma in the Left Submandibular Salivary Gland

Abstract

Pleomorphic adenomas, which are benign tumours of the salivary glands, are most commonly found in the parotid gland and comparatively infrequently seen in the submandibular gland. These benign mixed tumours, known as pleomorphic tumours, are composed of different types of myoepithelium, epithelium, and mesenchyme. Regardless of the histologic type, parotid gland neoplasms result in distinct swellings in front of and below the ear. With the exception of neglected malignant tumours, both benign and malignant lesions are normally palpable when they are first discovered. Malignancies are often discovered more quickly due to their rapid growth, even though benign tumours are known to exist for many months to years before gaining clinical attention. Ultimately, there are no reliable clinical criteria to distinguish between benign and malignant lesions. A 58-year-old female patient presented to the general surgery outpatient department with a six-month history of a firm, palpable, slow-growing, painless, freely mobile mass in the submandibular region that was not attached to the surrounding tissue, bone, or skin. There was no significant past history, and the patient was not on any medication. Axial and coronal views of the Computed Tomography (CT) scan showed a well-defined radiolucent mass in the medial aspect of the left submandibular gland. The patient underwent surgical exploration and excision of the mass under general anaesthesia, and the excised specimen was sent for histopathological examination. The entire gland was dissected freely and removed, with utmost care taken not to affect the nearby neurovascular structures. No enlarged lymph nodes were noted. The histopathological examination of the biopsy specimen revealed features of pleomorphic adenoma. Surgery is the treatment of choice for pleomorphic adenoma, and the tumour tissue must be completely removed because any residual tumour tissue has a high risk of recurrence or transformation into a malignant tumour. The patient was followed up for more than two years with no signs of recurrence.