Abstract
Histopathological diagnoses for palatal pleomorphic adenomas are often impossible because of inadequate biopsy procedures. In order to adduce reasons for the high ratio of unsuccessful palatal biopsies, we reexamined palatal biopsy specimens to assess depth and volume of tissue samples and sites of incision. The depth of unsuccessful biopsy specimens was 4.2 ± 0.4 mm (mean ± S.E.), which was significantly shorter than successful biopsy ones. The volume of unsuccessful biopsy samples was 142.5 ± 38.6 mm3, whichwas less than half of successful ones. The ratio of biopsy specimen volume to the total tumor volume in unsuccessful biopsies was 0.86 ± 0.2%, which was three times less than that in successful ones. Erroneous biopsies were more often performed in the posterior and lateral sides of tumors. The results indicate that incisional biopsies for palatal tumors should be performed in the anterior side of tumors with an incision depth of 5 mm including the palatal mucosa and with a 3% volume of tumors.
