title: Voluminous Myoepithelioma of the Minor Salivary Glands Involving the Base of the Tongue.
abstract: Myoepithelioma is an extremely rare tumour subtype and diagnosis is based on a wide variation of cellular morphology. FNAC specimens do not always suffice for a definitive differential diagnosis which depends on histology and immunohistochemistry of the lesion. Case Presentation. A 54-year-old female came to our attention with dysphagia and dyslalia of 6-month standing. Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) examination revealed a voluminous mass on the right portion of the base of her tongue, where postcontrast T2-weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) evidenced a hyperintense lesion. The fine-needle aspiration specimen taken for cytology was not diagnostic, as a differential diagnosis between myoepithelioma and a malignant neoplasm of the salivary glands necessitates parameters that cytology alone cannot provide. Therefore, the whole lesion was excised by diode laser through a transoral approach. Histology and immunohistochemistry of the completely excised lesion confirmed a myoepithelioma.
authors.affiliation: ENT Department, University of Eastern Piedmont, 28100 Novara, Italy.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Policarpo
authors.affiliation: ENT Department, University of Eastern Piedmont, 28100 Novara, Italy.
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Longoni
authors.affiliation: ENT Department, University of Eastern Piedmont, 28100 Novara, Italy.
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-9638-9107
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Garofalo
authors.affiliation: Pathology Department, University of Eastern Piedmont, 28100 Novara, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Spina
authors.affiliation: ENT Department, University of Eastern Piedmont, 28100 Novara, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pia