Background: Hyalinizing clear cell adenocarcinoma (HCCA) is a rare salivary gland malignancy. To our knowledge, there are no published reports of primary clear cell carcinoma of the vallecula.
Methods: A 59-year-old man with progressive dysphagia and otalgia underwent direct laryngoscopy with biopsy of a vallecular mass. The pathology results returned as clear cell adenocarcinoma. He underwent a wide local excision for his T₂N₀M₀ stage II tumor.
Results: Clear cell adenocarcinoma of the oropharynx typically presents as a painless neck mass and it can be difficult to distinguish from other clear cell malignancies.
Conclusion: Immunohistochemical staining is essential for narrowing the differential diagnosis of these lesions. Treatment is controversial but usually consists of wide local excision and possibly a neck dissection.
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