Korean Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology  2010;40(4):191-196

MRI findings of a huge cystadenocarcinoma of the palate.

Jin Woo CHOI 1

Affiliations

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Keywords

Cystadenocarcinoma; Salivary Glands; Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Country

Republic of Korea

Language

English

Abstract

Cystadenocarcinoma of the salivary glands is a very rare, slow growing, and low-grade malignant neoplasm. It is characterized by predominantly cystic growth with or without the intraluminal papillary component. However, it lacks of any additional specific histopathologic features that characterize other types of salivary carcinomas showing cystic growth. Therefore, definite diagnosis of the cystadenocarcinoma is difficult and it is often misdiagnosed. It is conceptually the malignant counterpart of the benign cystadenoma. We present a cystadenocarcinoma on the palate of a 49-year-old man with special emphasis on magnetic resonance imaging.