TY - JOUR
T1 - Going beyond "basaloid neoplasm"
T2 - Fine needle aspiration cytology of epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma of the parotid gland
AU - Molnar, Stacy L.
AU - Zarka, Matthew A.
AU - De Las Casas, Luis E.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
PY - 2016/5/1
Y1 - 2016/5/1
N2 - Epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma (EMC) is a rare salivary gland malignancy with variable cytologic findings. Its rarity, variable morphologic findings, and similarities with more common salivary gland entities make it a difficult cytologic diagnosis. As the name signifies, the key feature of this tumor is presence of an epithelial and myoepithelial component. However, when one of these two components is scant on the fine needle aspiration (FNA) smears, it may be overlooked. We present a case from a 62 year-old female who presented to the clinic with a parotid nodule and episodes of sharp, throbbing pain. A fine needle aspiration was performed which revealed a highly cellular specimen comprised primarily of aggregates of cells with small, round nuclei and scant to absent cytoplasm. Abundant hyaline stromal material was also noted. The case was signed out as basaloid neoplasm with a recommendation for surgical resection. The subsequent resection specimen revealed EMC. By reviewing the FNA specimen following the surgical resection of the tumor, we were able to utilize the benefit of hindsight to more clearly identify the subtle, biphasic components of the tumor.
AB - Epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma (EMC) is a rare salivary gland malignancy with variable cytologic findings. Its rarity, variable morphologic findings, and similarities with more common salivary gland entities make it a difficult cytologic diagnosis. As the name signifies, the key feature of this tumor is presence of an epithelial and myoepithelial component. However, when one of these two components is scant on the fine needle aspiration (FNA) smears, it may be overlooked. We present a case from a 62 year-old female who presented to the clinic with a parotid nodule and episodes of sharp, throbbing pain. A fine needle aspiration was performed which revealed a highly cellular specimen comprised primarily of aggregates of cells with small, round nuclei and scant to absent cytoplasm. Abundant hyaline stromal material was also noted. The case was signed out as basaloid neoplasm with a recommendation for surgical resection. The subsequent resection specimen revealed EMC. By reviewing the FNA specimen following the surgical resection of the tumor, we were able to utilize the benefit of hindsight to more clearly identify the subtle, biphasic components of the tumor.
KW - epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma
KW - fine needle aspiration
KW - parotid
KW - salivary gland neoplasms
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U2 - 10.1002/dc.23434
DO - 10.1002/dc.23434
M3 - Article
C2 - 26798976
AN - SCOPUS:84955620345
SN - 8755-1039
VL - 44
SP - 422
EP - 425
JO - Diagnostic cytopathology
JF - Diagnostic cytopathology
IS - 5
ER -