BASAL-CELL ADENOMA - A CASE-REPORT

Basal cell adenoma is a rare benign neoplasm of the salivary glands th at derives its name from the basaloid appearance of the tumor cells. I t preferentially occurs in the parotid gland and upper lip during the sixth and seventh decades of life.(1) The clinical presentation most f requently seen is a slow-growing, asymptomatic, movable, round or oval , normally colored submucosal mass measuring less than 3.0 cm in diame ter, encapsulated and well circumscribed.(1,3) Histologically, the tum or consists of a proliferation of the terminal duct epithelial cells f orming islands(4) and sheets supported by a sparsely fibrous stroma, a nd the presence of small numbers of myoepithelial cells.(1) Basal cell adenoma is an uncommon tumor,(4) and a case involving the palate has not been previously reported.