Metastasizing pleomorphic adenoma of the submandibular gland with metastasis to the lung and sternum: CT and MR imaging findings

Distant metastasis of benign pleomorphic adenoma of salivary glands rarely occurs, and these neoplasms have been termed metastasizing pleomorphic adenoma. We present a rare case of metastasizing pleomorphic adenoma of the submandibular gland with lung and bone metastases obtained MR images and pathological findings. On MRI, the lesions were depicted as an area of high signal intensity on T2-weighted images (WI), reflecting myxoid or/and chondroid matrices. Metastasizing pleomorphic adenoma should be considered as a differential diagnosis when a pulmonary lesion shows high signal intensity on T2-WI and the patient has a medical history of salivary pleomorphic adenoma.
European Journal of Radiology Extra, 72(2), pp.e69-e72; 2009