Sclerosing Polycystic Adenosis of Tongue

Sclerosing polycystic adenosis (SPA) is a rare benign lesion of the salivary glands which appears histologically similar to sclerosing adenosis and fibrocystic disease of the mammary gland. To date, 67 cases of SPA have been reported in the literature, with the lesion arising in the minor salivary glands in only 9. The present report describes the 10th case of SPA. The patient was a 39-year-old Brazilian man who presented with an asymptomatic nodule on the ventral surface of the tongue. Based on a clinical diagnosis of benign salivary gland neoplasm, an excisional biopsy of the lesion was performed. Histopathological examination showed lobular proliferation of ductal and acinar elements surrounded by a fibrosclerotic stroma. Many of the ductal structures exhibited cystic dilatation and were surrounded by periductal fibrosis, which is consistent with SPA findings. No recurrence of the disease was observed after a 5-year follow-up. A literature review is also discussed, focusing on both the etiology of SPA and the treatment options available.