Epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma in the hard palate: a case report.
BACKGROUND
Epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma (EMC) is an uncommon salivary gland tumor.


METHODS
EMC arising from the minor salivary gland of the hard palate is very rare. A 70-year-old man presented with a nodular swelling in the hard palate. Fine needle aspiration cytology revealed biphasic epithelial (small cell) and myoepithelial (large/clear cell) clusters in a pseudopapillary and trabecular pattern. The cytology was reported as salivary gland neoplasm. The mass was excised and the histomorphology was suggestive of a low grade EMC. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated the biphasic nature of the tumor and confirmed the diagnosis of EMC. Follow-up for 2 years post surgery to date did not show any recurrence or metastases.


CONCLUSIONS
Though exact cytologic typing of EMC was not possible; this case highlights the importance of awareness of this tumor in the differential diagnosis of biphasic tumors of the salivary gland.
Pathology Unit, BARC Hospital, Anushakti Nagar, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400094, India. cheriansusan@yahoo.com
Susan
S
Cherian
Ratnakar
R
Kulkarni
Nalini
N
Bhat
D000368:Aged; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D009077:Mucins / Q000378:metabolism; D009208:Myoepithelioma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D009333:Neck / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D021362:Palate, Hard / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D011182:Postoperative Care; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D009077:Mucins