title: Myoepithelial carcinoma of the salivary glands: a clinicopathologic study of 51 cases in a tertiary cancer center.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the importance of unique cytoarchitectural patterns and the immunohistochemical profile in the diagnosis of myoepithelial carcinomas.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective case analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tertiary cancer center.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 51 patients with myoepithelial-rich carcinomas diagnosed over a 14-year period were studied for demographic data and tumor histologic characteristics and biologic behavior.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed various histopathologic parameters and an immunohistochemical profile consisting of pan-cytokeratin (Pan-CK), epithelial membrane antigen (EMA), CD10, smooth-muscle actin (SMA), S-100 protein, p63, calponin, and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The parotid gland (n = 15) and the palate (n = 15) were common sites involved. The cell types encountered were epithelioid, stellate, plasmacytoid, spindle, clear, and mixed with myxoid, hyaline, or myxohyaline stroma. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed vimentin (100%), CK (74%), EMA (27%), CD10 (62%), SMA (35%), S-100 protein (82%), p63 (28%), and calponin (98%) positivity and CEA (100%) negativity. Cervical node dissection was performed in 17 cases: 7 showed nodal metastasis, 2 with pure spindle-cell morphologic characteristics and 3 with spindle cells mixed with other cells. Distant metastasis was noted in 3 of these 7 cases: 2 of these 3 cases showed spindle-cell morphologic characteristics.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Myoepithelial carcinomas showed varied cell types and patterns leading to a wide range of differential diagnoses. Immunohistochemical analysis helped determine the diagnosis. Spindle morphologic characteristics were observed with nodal and distant metastasis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Tata Memorial Hospital, Parel, Mumbai 400017, India.
authors.forename: Shubhada V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Kane
authors.forename: Izhar N
authors.initials: IN
authors.lastname: Bagwan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D002173:Cancer Care Facilities; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007194:India; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008197:Lymph Node Excision / Q000379:methods; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009208:Myoepithelioma / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness / Q000473:pathology*; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D019647:Oral Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012468:Salivary Gland Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult