A case of cystadenocarcinoma of the ectopic salivary gland: comparison of pre-operative ultrasound, CT and MR images with the pathological specimen

Clinicopathological characteristics, treatment, and survival outcomes of cystadenocarcinoma of the salivary gland: a population-based study

Background

The aim of this study was to investigate the clinicopathological characteristics, treatment, and survival of cystadenocarcinoma of the salivary gland.

Patients and methods

Cases in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database from 1991 to 2012 were identified. Factors significantly associated with survival were identified using Kaplan–Meier survival analysis and Cox proportional hazard regression.

Results

A total of 65 patients were identified; of these patients, 64 received surgical treatment, 25 underwent lymphadenectomy, and four (16.0%) patients had nodal metastasis and only one (2.1%) patient had poorly differentiated disease. The most common tumor location was the parotid gland (87.7%). The median follow-up was 55 months. None of the patients died of salivary gland malignant-tumor-related disease. The 5- and 10-year cause-specific survival rates were 97.0% and 81.4%, respectively. The 5- and 10-year overall survival rates were 84.6% and 60.7%, respectively. Surgical procedures, lymphadenectomy, and adjuvant radiotherapy did not affect survival.

Conclusion

Salivary gland cystadenocarcinoma is extremely rare but has an excellent prognosis, and surgery is the mainstay of treatment.

Carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma originating from ectopic salivary gland in the neck region: case report

Carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma (CEPA) is the malignant salivary gland tumor originating from primary (de novo) or recurrent pleomorphic adenoma. Although parotid gland is the most common site, it can also be seen in submandibular gland or minor salivary glands. It can be seen rarely in head and neck region, such as oral cavity, trachea, nasal cavity and lacrimal gland. Although pleomorphic adenoma cases originating from ectopic salivary gland tissue in the neck region are present in the English literature, there is no published pleomorphic adenoma ex carcinoma case. In this case report we presented a CEPA as a 7.5 cm long neck mass in a 72-year-old woman originating from the submandibular region apart from submandibular gland. Difficulties in diagnosis and way to appropriate treatment are discussed with current literature.