Alveolar soft-part sarcoma in the oral cavity: report of a case.

This case presents a rare tumor of the oral cavity--an alveolar soft-part sarcoma. Difficulties developed in the diagnosis, and therefore, consultations were required. Because of the radioresistant qualities of the lesion, wide surgical excision was performed. The patient's condition has been followed for 40 months without evidence of recurrence. The conclusion arrived at from review of the literature is that this is an indolent but malignant tumor and has so far proved to be 100% fatal. However, it may be 20 years before it proves fatal.