Nagao T, Gaffey TA, Kay PA, Unni KK, Nascimento AG, Sebo TJ, Serizawa H, Minato H, Lewis JE. Dedifferentiation in low-grade mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the parotid gland.
Hum Pathol 2003;
34:1068-72. [PMID:
14608545 DOI:
10.1053/s0046-8177(03)00418-0]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC), a common malignant salivary gland neoplasm, is generally divided into low-, intermediate-, and high-grade types according to the histologic features. To our knowledge, the present report describes the first case of dedifferentiation occurring in a low-grade MEC. A 55-year-old man presented with a biphasic neoplasm of the right parotid gland composed of low-grade MEC and dedifferentiated high-grade anaplastic undifferentiated carcinoma. Immunohistochemically, carcinoembryonic antigen expression was restricted to the low-grade MEC portion. The Ki-67-labeling index was higher in the dedifferentiated component than in the low-grade component. On image cytometric analysis, the low-grade MEC was diploid, whereas the dedifferentiated carcinoma was aneuploid. Although the patient was alive 10 years after the initial diagnosis, the tumor has recurred twice, at 3 months and 7 months after the initial resection. It is important to recognize that dedifferentiation can occur in a low-grade MEC, similar to other low-grade salivary gland carcinomas.
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