A CASE OF CARCINOMA OF THE MINOR SALIVARY GLAND IN THE PROJECTION OF THE APEX OF THE TOOTH ROOT OF MAXILLA
Authors: Pyuryk V. P. , Prots H. B. , Makhlynets N. P. , Kostyshyn I. D. , Girna H. A. 
Published: January 2025

Every dentist should be oncologically alert when examining a patient. In the practice of dental surgeons, it is mandatory to conduct a pathohistological examination of all removed tissues during operations of various profiles. Doctors need to pay special attention to the study of the conducted studies. Since the small salivary glands have a high risk of malignancy.
Pleomorphic adenomas associated with small salivary glands require special attention. Salivary gland tumors are rare and account for 2-3.0% of all head and neck neoplasms. They develop mostly in the age group from 30 to 70 years. These tumors are more common in women than in men (ratio 1.9:1). Mostly 80.0% of tumors are benign. Among benign neoplasms of the salivary glands, pleomorphic adenoma is the most common - 70-80.0%. It tents to malignancy (5.0%). Small salivary gland tumors account for 20-30.0%.
We consider it necessary to deepen knowledge about the symptoms of malignant tumors in the early stages of their development for the purpose of adequate comprehensive treatment.
Aim of the study: this article reports on an unusual clinical case of carcinoma of the minor salivary gland with an atypical localization, which confirms the need for oncology surveillance and pathological examination in any operative treatment before making a final diagnosis.
Materials and methods. We have given an example of a complex diagnosis of a malignant tumor of the maxillofacial region, which in many respects resembled the clinical picture of a radicular cyst.
We report a case of carcinoma of the maxillary minor salivary gland in a 46-year-old patient. The peculiarity of the clinical case is that the tumor was detected after surgery and biopsy for an odontogenic cyst of the maxilla and the absence of clinical manifestations of malignancy.
Based on the complaints, objective and X-ray examination, a diagnosis of a radicular cyst of the 1.2 tooth was made. During the clinical examination, the mucous membrane of the upper jaw was unchanged. Lymphadenopathy wasn’t noted. Bone destruction was noted in the area of the apex of the root of the 1.2 tooth with clear boundaries, 0.8 mm in size. Cystectomy with resection of the root apex of tooth 1.2 was performed. The postoperative course was uneventful. However, the histopathological report refuted the preliminary clinical diagnosis and was also ambiguous, which led to several additional reviews and immunohistochemical examination before the final diagnosis of malignant tumor of the minor salivary gland.
The tumor was removed within healthy tissue. Doubting the radicality of surgical treatment, given the establishment of cancer and the need for postoperative radiation therapy, the patient underwent a control incisional biopsy of the postoperative area. There was not recurrence observed.
A thorough cytological or histological examination is a mandatory condition for determining the nature of the lesion, and in surgical dentistry pathological examination of all tissues. It must remove remains necessary.
Conclusions. In the treatment of all patients with benign tumors or tumor-like formations of any localization of ​​the head and neck area, it is necessary to observe the principles of tumor prevention. In the presence of a tumor-like formation of any genesis, all removed tissues should be sent for pathological examination, and if necessary, immunohistochemical examination.