Pleomorphic adenoma and adenoid-cystic carcinoma of the salivary glands: comparative immunohistochemical patterns.

ABSTRACT

A series of 20 cases of pleomorphic adenoma and 19 cases of adenoid-cystic carcinoma of the salivary glands, and one case in the mammary location, were investigated regarding immunohistochemical reactivity for Tissue Polypeptide Antigen (TPA), Pre-Keratins, Vimentin, S-100 Protein, and their arrangement pattern of fibronectin. As a whole, the results support the hypothesis of morpho-structural and mainly, onto-histogenetic similarities between these tumours, but they also underline the need for great care in outlining their morpho-functional features, in relation to their different prognoses.