Pleomorphic adenoma is a benign tumor of the salivary glands that consists of a combination of epithelial and mesenchymal elements. The tumor most commonly arises from the parotid (60- 70%) or submandibular glands. It develops less frequently on a minor salivary gland, presenting as an intraoral mass dependent on the palate or lip. A case is reported of giant pleomorphic adenoma resected using a transoral approach.

El adenoma pleomorfo es un tumor benigno de las glándulas salivares formado por la combinación de elementos epiteliales y mesenquimales. Generalmente constituyen el 60-70% de los tumores de la glándula parótida y el 40-60% de los de glándula submaxilar. Menos frecuentemente es su desarrollo a partir de una glándula salivar menor, presentándose como una masa intraoral dependiente de paladar o labio. Se expone el caso de un adenoma pleomorfo gigante de paladar duro y su exéresis por la vía transoral.

To assess the clinical relevance of a semi-quantitative measurement of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) DNA in renal transplant recipients within the typical clinical context of a developing country where virtually 100% of both receptors and donors are seropositive for this virus, we have undertaken HCMV DNA quantification using a simple, semi-quantitative, limiting dilution polymerase chain reaction (PCR). We evaluated this assay prospectively in 52 renal transplant patients from whom a total of 495 serial blood samples were collected. The samples scored HCMV positive by qualitative PCR had the levels of HCMV DNA determined by end-point dilution-PCR. All patients were HCMV DNA positive during the monitoring period and a diagnosis of symptomatic infection was made for 4 of 52 patients. In symptomatic patients the geometric mean of the highest level of HCMV DNAemia was 152,000 copies per 106 leukocytes, while for the asymptomatic group this value was 12,050. Symptomatic patients showed high, protracted HCMV DNA levels, whereas asymptomatic patients demonstrated intermittent low or moderate levels. Using a cut-off value of 100,000 copies per 106 leukocytes, the limiting dilution assay had sensitivity of 100%, specificity of 92%, a positive predictive value of 43% and a negative predictive value of 100% for HCMV disease. In this patient group, there was universal HCMV infection but relatively infrequent symptomatic HCMV disease. The two patient groups were readily distinguished by monitoring with the limiting dilution assay, an extremely simple technology immediately applicable in any clinical laboratory with PCR capability.