The need for clinical awareness of polymorphous low-grade adenocarcinoma: a review.

Adenocarcinomas of the salivary glands are a heterogeneous group both in terms of histomorphology and clinical course. One recently described adenocarcinoma, polymorphous low-grade adenocarcinoma (solely of minor salivary gland occurrence), is appropriately named. This neoplasm has a wide spectrum of histology and can resemble tumors such as pleomorphic adenoma and adenoid cystic carcinoma; both aspects can lead to diagnostic problems for the pathologist. As well, despite an infiltrative growth pattern, which frequently results in perineural invasion, this tumor has a low local recurrence rate and a remarkable infrequency of local or distant metastasis. In order to provide appropriate therapy for polymorphous low-grade adenocarcinoma, oral and head and neck surgeons must be familiar with this neoplasm.