title: Myoepithelial carcinoma of the parotid: a rare tumour that may provide diagnostic difficulty.
abstract: This report presents the case of a 57-year-old man with a 6-week history of a slowly enlarging lump in the right parotid gland. Initial ultrasound investigation confirmed a 3 cm solid mass located within the superficial lobe of the right parotid gland. Sonographically, the mass demonstrated possible malignant features with internal heterogeneity of architecture and some loss of marginal clarity. Ultrasound-guided core biopsy (USCB) of the mass reported a mixed neoplasm with epithelial and myoepithelial appearances consistent with likely benign adenoma or myoepithelioma. A right superficial parotidectomy was subsequently performed. Histological and immunohistochemical analysis of the excised specimen showed a myoepithelial carcinoma. Postoperative CT and MR staging scans did not show evidence of metastases and no further treatment was given following discussion of the case at the regional speciality multidisciplinary meeting. This case illustrates the clinical and pathological features of this rare salivary gland tumour, but also discusses the diagnostic difficulties that may be encountered preoperatively.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, East Sussex Hospital NHS Trust, Eastbourne, UK.
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Skelton
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, East Sussex Hospital NHS Trust, Eastbourne, UK.
authors.forename: Amanda C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Jewison
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Eastbourne District General Hospital, Eastbourne, UK.
authors.forename: Keith
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ramesar
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Eastbourne DGH, Eastbourne, UK.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Howlett
mesh_terms: D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D061705:Image-Guided Biopsy; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009208:Myoepithelioma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D010306:Parotid Gland / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D010307:Parotid Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D011859:Radiography; D014463:Ultrasonography