9 Pathology: Oral Cavity Salivary Gland Malignancies

10.1055/b-0040-176895

9 Pathology: Oral Cavity Salivary Gland Malignancies

Elizabeth M. Kurian and Justin A. Bishop

Summary

Accurate diagnosis of minor salivary gland malignancies of the oral cavity determines prognosis and guides treatment. This chapter outlines the pertinent epidemiology, clinical presentation, and diagnostic histology. Pertinent associated molecular alterations are included, if applicable, with inclusion of the most common treatment considerations.

9.1 General Introduction

In the head and neck region, there are up to 750 minor salivary glands. 1 Minor salivary gland tumors represent a small subset (15-20%) of all salivary gland tumors, which in turn comprise only 3 to 5% of cumulative head and neck tumors. 2 , 3 The most common site of minor salivary gland tumors is the oral cavity. Unlike in major salivary glands, tumors of the minor salivary glands are predominantly malignant. The palate is the most common site of tumor involvement. 2 , 4 6 Based on geographic variability, the second most common site of involvement varies from tongue, 3 , 5 followed by either buccal mucosa or labial mucosa. 5 8

Minor salivary gland malignancies affect all ages, with reported ranges of 6 to 96 years of age. 9 The mean age is 46 to 49 years. 3 , 5 , 9 The male-to-female ratio is 1.4:1 in Libyan and Indian study populations, with reported female predominance in the U.S. and Pakistan population studies. 5 The most common clinical presentation is a mass or swelling (72%), sometimes painful (13%) or less often as an ulcer (3%). 4 There are no known environmental associated risk factors (i.e., smoking, etc.), although genetic variants in deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) double-strand break repair genes and germline BRCA mutations are associated with increased risk for salivary gland malignancies. 10

The prevalence of histologic minor salivary gland carcinoma subtypes varies based on geography. Western countries (Australia, 8 United States, United Kingdom, Denmark) demonstrate a greater incidence of adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC), followed by mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC). In contrast, this prevalence is reversed in some studies from India, Japan, United Kingdom, Australia, and the United States. 5 , 10 Overall, the most common malignant minor salivary gland tumors are MEC and ACC, followed by polymorphous adenocarcinoma (PAC) and adenocarcinoma not otherwise specified (NOS). 5 , 11

In general, the primary treatment modality is complete surgical resection. 11 Chemotherapy is used only for palliative care. 1 Adjuvant or postoperative radiation therapy may be considered in cases with a positive surgical margin, 8 , 11 , 12 nodal metastases, high-grade carcinoma, 8 , 11 , 12 perineural invasion, 8 , 12 or in advanced malignancies with bone invasion. 9 , 12 In these cases, radiation may be effective for postoperative local control or as primary therapy for unresectable malignancies. 1 , 8 The rare minor salivary gland malignancies occurring in the pediatric population have a better overall survival and disease-free survival compared to adults. 11 Further details regarding the specific management of each subtype of oral cavity salivary gland malignancy can be found in Chapter 37. Overall, most studies show that clinical staging is the most important prognostic factor. 4

9.2 Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma

9.2.1 Introduction

MEC is one of the most common intraoral minor salivary gland malignancies. 10 Histologically, it is composed of three cell types (mucinous, intermediate, and epidermoid cells) and classified into low-„, intermediate-„, and high-grade MEC. 10

9.2.2 Epidemiology

The male-to-female ratio is 1:1.4; with an age range from 18 to 67 years (mean age of 60 years). 10 According to the WHO Classification of Head and Neck tumors, it is one of the most common salivary gland malignancies in young adults and children, and may be secondary to radiation exposure or prior treatment with chemotherapy (latency of 8 years). 10

9.2.3 Clinical Presentation

While presentation is dependent on site, size, and grade, 10 it often presents as an asymptomatic dome or swelling. The most common site is the palate, followed by lower lip or alveolar mucosa. 7 , 10 A potential pitfall is when MEC may clinically mimic an intraoral mucocele. 10

9.2.4 Diagnosis and Evaluation

MEC is characterized by three components, which include mucinous cells, intermediate-type cells, and epidermoid cells in variable proportions (▶ Fig. 9.1). The grading of these tumors accounts for solid versus cystic growth patterns, anaplasia, mitotic activity, necrosis, and invasiveness (i.e., perineural, lymphovascular, bone involvement, and/or metastasis).

Fig. 9.1 Mucoepidermoid carcinoma consists of a mixture of squamoid, mucinous, and intermediate cells growing as nests and microcysts.

Low-grade MECs are composed predominantly of a cystic component with a predominance of mucin, macrophages, and bland epithelioid cells. These lesions are usually well circumscribed.

Intermediate-grade MECs may show a mixture of solid and cystic components, without overt high-grade nuclear atypia, but are less well circumscribed. High-grade MECs are predominantly solid but must show at least focal intracellular mucin positivity to make the diagnosis. 10 According to the WHO classification, high-grade MECs should have at least one of the following: nuclear anaplasia, necrosis, increased mitotic rate, and perineural, lymphovascular, or bony invasion. The presence of keratinization is an unusual feature and may suggest squamous carcinoma/non-MEC tumor (e.g., necrotizing sialometaplasia, pleomorphic adenoma with squamous metaplasia, sclerosing polycystic adenosis, 10 or epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma [EMC] with squamous differentiation).

Ancillary studies such as a mucicarmine or periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) with diastase can highlight the mucin within the cytoplasm of the malignant cells. A p40 or p63 immunohistochemistry may be helpful to highlight epithelioid/intermediate cell components, or Ki-67 for better assessment of high mitotic activity within a poorly differentiated MEC. If there is extensive squamous differentiation, the differential diagnosis may also include squamous cell carcinoma of the oral mucosa. In high-grade MEC, at least focal mucin is required and keratinization would not be present.

Some variants of MEC include unicystic, sclerosing, ciliated, Warthin-like, oncocytic, clear cell, spindle cell, goblet cell aggressive, psammomatous, and sebaceous type. 13 These rare variants have no prognostic implications. 14 While these subtypes are rare in minor salivary glands, a brief review of the more histologically challenging variants are described for accurate recognition.

  • Sclerosing mucoepidermoid carcinoma (SMEC) is characterized histologically by dense, central hyalinizing sclerosis that lacks an inflammatory response and may obscure classic histomorphologic features of mucin, intermediate cells, or the epidermoid component. The periphery of the tumor may show a mixed infiltrate of plasma cells, eosinophils, or lymphocytes. This is a rare variant with reports predominating in major salivary glands, and very few reports in minor salivary glands. 13

  • Ciliated MEC is defined by “macrocystic spaces punctuated by tubulopapillary proliferations of squamoid cells and ciliated columnar cells.” 15 While the ciliated component may suggest benignity, the proliferation of squamous cells can be noted and ancillary molecular testing may assist with a definitive diagnosis.

  • The oncocytic variant (OMEC) is characterized by the presence of polyhedral cells with granular eosinophilic cytoplasm that may be arranged in a cystic, organoid, or alveolar pattern with interspersed mucous cells. Few and/or variable squamoid cells and intermediate cells may be present. Only rare cases have been reported in minor salivary glands, all low grade (n = 4). 14 Immunohistochemistry for p63 or p40 is helpful in distinguishing OMEC from oncocytoma or oncocytic carcinoma, with diffuse staining typically seen in the former, and only patchy, peripheral staining in the latter. 14

9.2.5 Molecular Testing

The gene fusions involving the MAML2 gene (CTRC1-MAML2 or CRTC3-MAML2) are found in the majority of MECs, of all grades (~75-80%). 15 This may be helpful in placing malignant cases into a definitive classification, when the histomorphologic diagnosis is elusive (i.e., poorly differentiated or variant MECs, etc.). Gene fusions involving MAML2 are no longer thought to be a contributor to prognosis; therefore, routine MAML2 testing for MEC is not required. 15

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Jun 23, 2020 | Posted by in General Dentistry | Comments Off on 9 Pathology: Oral Cavity Salivary Gland Malignancies

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