Indolent palatal swelling: Catch 22

Natl J Maxillofac Surg. 2016 Jul-Dec;7(2):221-224. doi: 10.4103/0975-5950.201352.

Abstract

We present an interesting but intriguing case of an indolent palatal swelling. The lesion was asymptomatic causing little discomfort to the patient and thus was an incidental clinical finding. Provisional diagnosis was a benign, minor salivary gland tumor. Clinical differential diagnoses included benign lymphoepithelial lesion or mucus extravasation phenomenon. Nevertheless, we also considered malignancies such as mucoepidermoid carcinoma, lymphoma, and neoplasm of the maxillary sinus. However, the histopathology revealed a rare clinicopathologic entity prompting immediate treatment of the lesion.

Keywords: Palatal swelling; polymorphous low-grade adenocarcinoma; salivary gland tumor.