Polymorphous adenocarcinoma on the base of tongue: a rare case

Polymorphous adenocarcinoma (PAC) is a distinct neoplasm of the minor salivary gland. Most patients present with an asymptomatic mass in the hard palate.” Rarely, “the mass can also occur in the” base of the tongue. A 56-year-old female patient, presented to ENT clinic, Teaching Hospital Jaffna with a history of voice change for 4 months. Her physical examination revealed fissured tongue, a mass of 1×1.5 cm in size with intact mucosa located at the left side of the base of tongue, which was crossing the midline and infiltrated into the deep tongue muscles. Deep biopsy revealed polymorphous adenocarcinoma. She was treated with radiotherapy.  PAC is ‘unusual’ to arise at the base of the tongue. It is important to diagnose and treat it accordingly.