Ceruminous gland carcinomas: a clinicopathologic and immunophenotypic study of 17 cases.
BACKGROUND
Ceruminal gland carcinomas are rare neoplasms confined to the skin lining the cartilaginous part of the external auditory canal.


METHODS
Retrospective.


RESULTS
The patients included 11 men and 6 women, aged 33-82 years (mean, 59.5 years). Patients presented clinically with a mass of the outer half of the external auditory canal (n = 14), hearing changes (n = 5), drainage (n = 4), or paralysis of the facial nerve (n = 3). The polypoid masses ranged in size from 0.5 to 3 cm in greatest dimension (mean, 1.8 cm). Histologically, the tumors demonstrated a solid to cystic pattern, composed of an infiltrating glandular to cribriform arrangement of epithelial cells. Histologic features included a dual cell population (although not the dominant histology), increased cellularity, moderate to severe nuclear pleomorphism, irregular nucleoli, increased mitotic figures (mean, 3/10 HPF), including atypical forms, and tumor necrosis (n = 2). Tumors were divided into three types of adenocarcinoma based on pattern of growth and cell type (ceruminous, NOS [n = 12], adenoid cystic [n = 4], mucoepidermoid [n = 1]). CK7 and CD117 highlighted the luminal cells, while S1-00 protein showed a predilection for the basal cells of ceruminous and adenoid cystic carcinomas. Metastatic adenocarcinoma or direct extension from salivary gland neoplasms are the principle differential considerations. Surgical resection was used in all patients with radiation used in four patients. Eleven patients were alive or had died of unrelated causes without evidence of disease (mean, 11.2 years); six patients had died with disease (mean, 4.9 years), all of whom had developed local recurrence.


CONCLUSIONS
Ceruminous-type carcinomas, with the exception of ceruminous mucoepidermoid carcinoma, all demonstrated a dual cell population of basal myoepithelial-type cells and luminal apocrine cells. The specific histologic sub-type does not influence the long-term patient outcome.
Crain
Nikhil
N
Department of Pathology, Southern California Permanente Medical Group, Woodland Hills Medical Center, 5601 De Soto Avenue, Woodland Hills, CA 91367-6701, USA.
Nelson
Brenda L
BL
Barnes
E Leon
EL
Thompson
Lester D R
LD
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004428:Ear Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D004431:Ear, External / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013517:Otorhinolaryngologic Surgical Procedures; D011878:Radiotherapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor