title: Cytomorphological findings and histological correlation of papillary cystadenocarcinoma of the parotid: Not always a low-grade tumor.
abstract: Papillary cystadenocarcinoma (PCAC) is a rare salivary gland tumor characterized by a predominantly cystic growth that often exhibits intraluminal papillary growth without specific histologic features of other cystic salivary gland tumors. The preoperative cytological diagnosis can pose a diagnostic challenge as it has to be differentiated from other cystic papillary tumors such as mucoepidermoid carcinoma, papillary cystic variant of acinic cell carcinoma, and low-grade cribriform CAC. It is considered to be a low-grade malignant salivary gland tumor with an indolent biological behavior. We report a case of PCAC of the parotid in a 55-year-old male diagnosed on fine needle aspiration cytology. Although it showed mild atypia cytologically, on excision tumor showed vascular and perineural invasion with regional node metastasis indicating a wider morphologic spectrum than what is described. This prompted us to write a case report describing the cytological and histological features of this rare tumor and also discuss the diagnostic challenges.
authors: Department of Pathology, R. N. Cooper Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
authors: Yasmeen
authors: Y
authors: Khatib
authors: Department of Pathology, R. N. Cooper Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
authors: Madhura
authors: M
authors: Dande
authors: Department of Pathology, R. N. Cooper Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
authors: Richa D
authors: RD
authors: Patel
authors: Department of Pathology, Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
authors: Shubhada V
authors: SV
authors: Kane
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D018283:Cystadenocarcinoma, Papillary / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology*; D003584:Cytological Techniques; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D053552:Keratin-7 / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008853:Microscopy; D008875:Middle Aged; D009077:Mucins / Q000032:analysis; D010307:Parotid Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D053552:Keratin-7; D009077:Mucins