title: Poorly-differentiated adenoid cystic carcinoma: cytologic appearance in fine-needle aspirates of distant metastases.
abstract: Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is a primary salivary-gland neoplasm which typically yields characteristic cytomorphology upon fine-needle aspiration (FNA). We report on the FNA findings of a case of ACC metastatic to the liver which demonstrated a predominantly solid, poorly-differentiated pattern, an unusual but well-recognized subtype associated with a poor clinical outcome. The FNA findings in 7 additional cases of ACC metastatic to distant sites were also reviewed, with 4 cases displaying a prominent poorly-differentiated component. These findings suggest that, although not commonly recognized in salivary-gland FNAs, the poorly-differentiated pattern of ACC does occur in metastatic deposits and should be recognized as such, thereby preventing a needless search for a second primary malignancy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, USA.
authors.forename: G H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: N P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Caraway
mesh_terms: D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D003528:Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000556:secondary; D003581:Cytodiagnosis / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary*; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012468:Salivary Gland Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology*