Carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma of the infratemporal fossa: a case report with magnetic resonance imaging findings

Abstract

The infratemporal fossa is the deep retromaxillary space that corresponds to the inferior aspect of the middle cranial fossa. Although tumors of the infratemporal fossa are uncommon, a variety of neoplasms have been reported to involve this area. They include nasopharyngeal carcinomas, juvenile angiofibromas, and adenoid cystic carcinomas. Rarely, a pleomorphic adenoma (PA) is seen, although carcinoma ex PA, a malignant tumor of the salivary glands arising in a preexisting PA, has not been reported in the literature. Factors affecting the malignant transformation of a PA include tumor recurrence, the age of the preexisting tumor, radiation therapy, advanced age of the patient, and tumor size. Here, we present the case of a 40-year-old woman with carcinoma ex PA of the infratemporal fossa with its associated computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging findings.