Abstract
Background: Polymorphous low-grade adenocarcinoma (PLGA) is a rare tumor arising exclusively in the minor salivary glands. There are only a few reports on the cytology of PLGA. We report the cytological features of recurrent and metastatic PLGA.
Case: Swelling of the hard palate was pointed out in a 70 -year-old woman 1990. Histopathological diagnosis was PLGA of minor salivary gland (palate). Swelling of the right submandibular and cervical lymph nodes developed in 1995, 1998 and 1999. Cytological diagnosis was malignancy. Histopathological diagnosis was recurrence and metastasis of PLGA.
Cytologically, tumor cells were isolated or arranged in clusters with sheet-like, adenoid cystic carcinoma-like, papillary, trabecular and tubular patterns. Tumor cells revealed high nucleocytoplasmic ratio, but pleomorphism was not prominent. A stromal component was observed in the backgrounds or within glandlike spaces in the cell clusters.
Conclusion: Cytological features of our case were similar to adenoid cystic carcinoma. PLGA may be diagnosed by careful attention to features of stromal components, arrangement of cell clusters, quantity of the cytoplasm and findings of the nuclei.
