Fine-needle aspiration cytological findings in five cases of epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma of salivary glands.
The cytologic features of five cases of epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma arising in major salivary glands (four parotid and one submandibular gland) are presented. All cases were initially diagnosed as low-grade malignancies. The smears were generally cellular, with no specific architectural pattern. Single cells and naked nuclei were prominent in all cases. A biphasic epithelial (small-cell) and myoepithelial (large/clear-cell) pattern was identified readily in two cases and with difficulty in one case. The biphasic pattern may be subtle or absent since the clear cells have a fragile cytoplasm and often appear as naked nuclei. The differential diagnosis includes adenoid cystic carcinoma, polymorphous low-grade adenocarcinoma, and cellular pleomorphic adenoma.
Miliauskas
John R
JR
Department of Pathology, Clinpath Laboratories, South Australia, Australia. histo@clinpath.com.au
Orell
Svante R
SR
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009208:Myoepithelioma / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D010307:Parotid Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D013365:Submandibular Gland Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery