Mucinous Adenocarcinoma of the Palate: Report of a Case and Review of the Literature

Abstract

Primary mucinous adenocarcinoma of salivary gland origin is a rare malignant neoplasm that appears analogous in many ways to mucinous adenocarcinoma of the skin and breast. We present a case that may have arisen from the minor salivary glands of the palate. A 72-year-old male had a nontender, firm, bluish nodule at the junction of his left hard and soft palate for several months. Incisional biopsy showed collagenous bands separating variably sized pools of mucin, many containing suspended islands of atypical ductal epithelial cells.