Case Report: Carcinoma Ex‐Pleomorphic Adenoma With Concurrent Submandibular Gland Lithiasis—A Rare Association With Potential Pathophysiological Implications

TL;DR

A rare case of a 79-year-old man with both submandibular gland stones and a rare type of cancer is reported, suggesting a possible link between chronic inflammation and cancer development.

Contribution

This is the fourth documented case linking submandibular gland lithiasis with carcinoma ex-pleomorphic adenoma, suggesting a potential pathophysiological connection.

Findings

The patient had submandibular gland lithiasis and carcinoma ex-pleomorphic adenoma confirmed post-surgery.

The case suggests chronic inflammation from lithiasis may contribute to malignant transformation.

The patient remained disease-free with good outcomes at 24-month follow-up.

Abstract

This case report details the exceptionally rare co‐occurrence of submandibular gland lithiasis and carcinoma ex‐pleomorphic adenoma (CXPA), representing only the fourth documented instance worldwide. The patient, a 79‐year‐old male with a 10‐year history of recurrent submandibular symptoms, was found to have both ductal and intraglandular stones alongside non‐uniform glandular enlargement. Post‐surgical analysis confirmed CXPA. The patient remained disease‐free with good functional outcomes at 24‐month follow‐up. This case provides valuable insights, suggesting a potential pathophysiological link between the chronic inflammation associated with long‐standing lithiasis and the malignant transformation leading to CXPA. It underscores the importance of comprehensive diagnostic evaluation for chronic or atypical submandibular gland conditions to rule out concurrent malignancy.

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