Unusual presentation of cribriform adenocarcinoma of salivary glands: A case report.

According to the last edition of the World Health Organization classification, cribriform adenocarcinoma of salivary glands (CASGs) was considered a variant of polymorphus adenocarcinoma although many authors proposed CASG as a distinct neoplasm. The aim of this study was to report an unusual presentation of CASG in the buccal mucosa of a 63-year-old male patient that showed signs of encapsulation and no evidence of lymph node metastasis. The lesion was composed of lobules of tumoral cells arranged in solid nests, sheets, papillary, and cribriform or glomeruloid patterns. Most of the peripheral cells show palisaded arrangement with peripheral clefting from the adjacent stroma. Surgical resection of the lesion was done and further neck dissection was recommended.

Immunohistochemical expression of epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) in mucoepidermoid carcinoma compared to normal salivary gland tissues.

OBJECTIVES: Mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) is the most common malignant salivary gland tumor which displays biological, histological and clinical diversity thus representing a challenge for its diagnosis and management. Epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) is a transmembrane glycoprotein identified as a tumor specific antigen due to its frequent overexpression in the majority of epithelial carcinomas and its correlation with prognosis. It is considered to be a promising biomarker used as a therapeutic target already in ongoing clinical trials. The purpose of this study was to investigate the pattern, cellular characterization and level of EpCAM expression in MEC and demonstrate its correlation with histologic grading which may benefit future clinical trials using EpCAM targeted therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 48 specimens (12 normal salivary gland tissue and 36 MEC) were collected and EpCAM membranous expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Total immunoscore (TIS) was evaluated, the term 'EpCAM overexpression' was given for tissues showing a total immunoscore >4. RESULTS: A highly significant difference was observed between TIS percent values in control and different grades of MEC (p<0.001). High grade MEC (HG-MEC) was the highest EpCAM expressor. In addition, EpCAM expression pattern differed among the different grades. CONCLUSION: EpCAM expression was detected in MEC, and its overexpression correlated with increasing the histological grade. The diffuse membranous expression in HG-MEC could be of diagnostic value in relation to the patchy expression observed in both low grade and intermediate grade MEC.