Cytomorphologic features of a polymorphous low grade adenocarcinoma of the palate. A report of 2 cases with immunocytochemistry.
BACKGROUND
Polymorphous low grade adenocarcinoma (PLGA) is a histologically low grade tumor of minor salivary gland origin. It is important to differentiate PLGA from other salivary gland tumors with myoepithelial differentiation, such as pleomorphic adenoma, adenoid cystic carcinoma and epithelial myoepithelial carcinoma. Here we report 2 cases of PLGA originating in the palate and describe the cytomorphologic and immunocytochemical features.


METHODS
The patients were a 55-year-old woman and a 63-year-old man. Both presented with a mass in the palate. Clinically the mass appeared malignant, and resection was performed. Cytologically the tumor cells were composed of sheet clusters, pseudopapillary epithelial clusters, naked cells and stromal components. Immunocytochemically the tumor cells showed strong expression of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and vimentin.


CONCLUSIONS
PLGA may be difficult to distinguish from other salivary gland tumors with myoepithelial differentiation. However, the cytopathologist should be aware of the distinctive cytomorphologic features of PLGA, demonstrating immunopositivity to CEA and vimentin.
Kawahara
Akihiko
A
Department of Pathology, Kurume University Hospital, 67 Asahi-machi, Kurume 830-0011, Japan.
Harada
Hiroshi
H
Yokoyama
Toshiro
T
Kage
Masayoshi
M
D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000473:pathology*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018396:Mucin-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness / Q000473:pathology; D010157:Palatal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D014746:Vimentin / Q000378:metabolism
D000199:Actins; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen; D018396:Mucin-1; D014746:Vimentin