Adenoid cystic carcinoma found in the soft palate

Abstract

Recently we came across a case of adenoid cystic carcinoma in the soft palate rarely found in past medical literature. The patient, a 56-year-old woman, was treated by surgical resection of palatal tumor with immediate reconstruction of the palate after radio therapy and chemotherapy. The most difficult part was repairing the defects of the soft palate. Reconstruction was done by using a mucoperiosteal flap of hard palate. Detailed procedures of reconstruction are described and discussed in the paper.
Postoperative recovery was uneventful and, after 17 months, no evidence of recurrence or metastasis has been observed. Pronunciation disturbance was not serious and was much less than expected. No further complications nor adverse results due to the operation were observed.