title: Sarcomatoid salivary duct carcinoma.
abstract: The so-called sarcomatoid salivary duct carcinoma (SSDC) is one of the variants of salivary duct carcinoma (SDC). This neoplasm is characterized by the presence of both a carcinomatous and a sarcomatoid tumor component. The histology and nomenclature of such neoplasms has been a matter of debate for many years. The histologic, immunohistochemical, and electron microscopic findings including those of 4 previously described cases of SSDC are defined and the different attitudes concerning their etiology will be discussed. In addition, the fine-needle aspiration biopsy of such a case is presented for the first time. In analogy to typical SDC there seems to be a predilection for elderly men and a location in major salivary glands. The resected SSDC tumors measured between 1.5 and 3.5 cm. Histologically, each case was a composite of SDC and sarcomatoid carcinoma. Immunohistochemical positivity for epithelial membrane antigen (EMA) and cytokeratins (AE1/AE3, CAM 5.2) was shown in the sarcomatoid tumor component. The important cytomorphologic feature of SSDC is the presence of cohesive clusters and flat sheets of cells with a cribriform pattern, in combination with an atypical spindle cell component. The use of the term SSDC seems more appropriate than the term carcinosarcoma , as the immunohistochemical, electron microscopic, and recent molecular findings in this and other biphasic neoplasms imply a monoclonal origin.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Clinical Pathology, University Hospital Zürich, Switzerland. barbara.padberg@usz.ch
authors.forename: Barbara-Christina
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Padberg
authors.forename: Bernd
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sasse
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Huber
authors.forename: Madeleine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pfaltz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D044584:Carcinoma, Ductal / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D018987:Salivary Ducts; D012468:Salivary Gland Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000473:pathology*