Histological variety analysis for pleomorphic adenoma in salivary glands: Retrospective study

Background: Pleomorphic adenoma (PA) is the most frequent benign epithelial neoplasm of salivary glands, displaying a remarkable degree of morphological variety. The aim of the study is to illustrate the clinicopathological characteristics of PA with particular emphases on epithelial cell morphology and mesenchymal elements.

Materials and Methods: A total of 132 PA collected between 2002 and 2017 were recruited from Al Shahid Ghazi Al Hariri Hospital and the Department of Oral Pathology, College of Dentistry, Baghdad University, Baghdad, Iraq, and analyzed for their demographic and histopathological features. All data were analyzed using descriptive statistics.

Results: A slightly higher incidence of PA was detected in females (52.3%) compared to male subjects (47.7%), with an average age of 36.9 years. The palate was the most frequently involved site (64.5%), followed by the parotid gland (31.8%). Microscopically, there were 52 classic, 53 cellular, and only 27 myxoid PAs. Plasmacytoid cells were commonly observed as myoepithelial cells, followed by spindle cells. Trabeculae patterns were the most common archetypes created by the epithelial cells. Myxoids with chondroid mesenchymal-like tissues were the most commonly noticed stromal tissue, mostly making the nominated myxo-chondroid stroma.

Conclusion: PAs are neoplasms with a wide range of histological characteristics, including a diversity of cell morphology such as plasmacytoid, spindle, and cuboidal cells, as well as duct-like areas and a high incidence of myxochondroid stroma. Most PAs do not exhibit atypical features such as increased mitotic activity, cellular pleomorphism, or necrosis.