title: Immunohistochemical pattern of pleomorphic adenoma, polymorphous low grade adenocarcinoma and adenoid cystic carcinoma in minor salivary glands.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the immunohistochemical pattern of CD 117, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), smooth muscle actin (SMA) and CD 43 in pleomorphic adenoma (PA), adenoid cystic carcinoma (AdCC) and polymorphous low grade adenocarcinoma (PLGA) of minor salivary glands.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty cases of PA, 20 cases of AdCC and 10 cases of PLGA were retrieved from record files along with their paraffin blocks at Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Pakistan. New histological diagnosis was made on freshly prepared H&E sections followed by application and analysis of immunostains.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of the patients was 44 ± 15 (mean SD) (range; 17-86) years. There were 26 male and 24 female patients with a male to female ratio of 1.08:1. Fourteen cases of PA, 14 cases of AdCC and 6 cases of PLGA were positive for CD117. In case of GFAP, only 9 cases of AdCC and 3 cases of PLGA were positive; however, 16 cases of PA were also positive. Twelve cases of AdCC and 7 cases of PA were positive for SMA and half of the PLGA cases were also reactive. Nonetheless, the least expression was seen in case of CD 43, where only five cases of AdCC were positive. Six cases of PA and three cases of PLGA were also positive.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that the use of GFAP, SMA, CD 117 and CD 43 as an adjunct to histological examination is not helpful in differentiating PA, AdCC and PLGA from one another.
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Oral Pathology, Islamic International Dental College, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zaib
authors.affiliation: MBBS, FCPS, FRCPath, Consultant Histopathologist, Shuakat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Sajid
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mushtaq
authors.affiliation: MBBS, FCPS, Consultant Histopathologist, Shifa International Hospital, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Nadira
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mamoon
authors.affiliation: MBBS, FCPS, Consultant Histopathologist, Shuakat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Noreen
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Akhter
authors.affiliation: BDS, Mphil (Oral Pathology), Assistant Professor, Ziauddin Medical and Dental College, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Bushra
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ayaz
keywords: Adenoma, Pleomorphic; CD 117 Antigen; CD 43 Antigen, Immunohistochemistry; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; Salivary Gland Neoplasm; Smooth Muscle Actin