Myoepithelial Carcinoma arising in a background of pleomorphic adenoma

• Published in: Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association 2022-10, Vol.72 (10), p.2105
• Main Authors: Yaqoob, Nausheen, Ali, Salima Mansoor, Aftab, Kanwal, Memon, Riyasat Ahmed, Jamal, Saba
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adenocarcinoma; Adenoma, Pleomorphic - diagnosis; Biopsy; Carcinoma - pathology; Female; Humans; Middle Aged; Salivary Gland Neoplasms - pathology
• ISSN: 0030-9982
• DOI: 10.47391/JPMA.3528

Carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma is a neoplasm of the salivary gland that causes 3.6% of salivary gland tumours and 12% of salivary gland malignancies. It is a myoepithelial or epithelial neoplasm that arises from pleomorphic adenoma, whether primary or recurrent. Historically carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma is considered a high-grade malignancy. Salivary duct carcinoma and high-grade adenocarcinoma are the histologic types that most commonly arise in the background of Pleomorphic adenoma. However, 15% of tumours arising in Pleomorphic adenoma are considered low grade and have sluggish growth. Low-grade carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma can be difficult to differentiate from cellular pleomorphic adenoma. The case of a 56-year-old female patient who had neck swelling is being presented. The biopsy showed spindle cell component with mild atypia, invasion into surrounding tissue, and increased mitotic activity on the basis of which a diagnosis of Low-grade carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma developing in a background of pleomorphic adenoma was made. The morphological and immunohistochemical features confirmed the carcinoma component to be myoepithelial.