SciELO - Scientific Electronic Library Online

 
vol.20 issue31Skeletonized body identified by analysis of frontal sinus morphology and characteristics of osteosynthesis material: a forensic case reportAscher syndrome: clinical case care and treatment author indexsubject indexarticles search
Home Pagealphabetic serial listing  

Services on Demand

Journal

Article

Related links

Share


Odontoestomatología

Print version ISSN 0797-0374On-line version ISSN 1688-9339

Odontoestomatología vol.20 no.31 Montevideo June 2018

https://doi.org/10.22592/ode2018n31a8 

Case Report

Case report of Basal cell adenocarcinoma of the parotid gland: clinicopathological and immunohistochemical study

1 Medical Doctor - Clinical Oncology Specialist. Assistant Professor. School of Medical Sciences. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Argentina

2 Doctor of Medicine and Surgery. Associate Professor. School of Medical Sciences. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Argentina

3 Doctor of Medicine and Surgery. Full Professor. School of Dentistry. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Argentina


Abstract:

Basal cell adenocarcinoma is an epithelial neoplasm with the cytological characteristics of a basal cell adenoma but with a morphological pattern of infiltrative growth indicative of malignancy. It is often difficult to diagnose it because of its low incidence. The objective of this study is to identify the morphological and immunohistochemical characteristics that aid its diagnosis. A parotid tumor was resected in a 52-year-old patient; postoperative biopsy and immunostaining with Ki-67, CK19, p63 and α-smooth muscle actin were performed. The diagnosis was basal cell adenocarcinoma invading the tumor capsule, periglandular fat and lymph nodes. Immunolabeling with Ki-67, CK19, p63 and α-smooth muscle actin was positive. Subsequently, maxillary sinus metastasis was diagnosed. Given the morphological characteristics, elevated Ki-67 expression and metastasis, this is a malignant tumor, which differentiates it from the basal cell adenoma.

Keywords parotid; basal cell adenocarcinoma; diagnosis

Resumen:

El adenocarcinoma de células basales es una neoplasia epitelial con las características citológicas del adenoma de células basales pero con un patrón morfológico de crecimiento infiltrante indicativo de malignidad. Debido a su baja incidencia es a menudo difícil de diagnosticar. El objetivo del presente estudio fue identificar características morfológicas e inmunohistoquímicas que contribuyen a su diagnóstico. Se resecó un tumor de parótida en una paciente de 52 años; se realizó biopsia postoperatoria e inmunomarcación con Ki-67, CK19, p63 y alfa actina de músculo liso. Se diagnosticó adenocarcinoma de células basales mixto sólido y tubular con invasión perineural y de la cápsula tumoral, grasa periglandular y nodos linfoides. La inmunomarcación con Ki-67, CK19, p63 y alfa actina de músculo liso resultó positiva. Posteriormente se diagnosticó una metástasis en seno maxilar. Las características morfológicas, la inmunomarcación Ki-67 positiva y la metástasis le dan el carácter maligno a este tumor, lo que lo diferencia del adenoma de células basales.

Palabras clave: parótida; adenocarcinoma de células basales; diagnóstico

Introduction

The World Health Organization as well as Ellis and Auclair described basal cell adenocarcinoma (ICD-O Code 8147/3, International Classification of Diseases for Oncology) as a cytological epithelial neoplasm, and in terms of histomorphology it was found to be very similar to basal cell adenoma, but with infiltrative growth and a low incidence of metastasis1-3.

BACKGROUND

Some authors consider that this tumor stems from a basal cell adenoma while others argue that it originates de novo. Of all the cases, 80% are located in the parotid glands, 9% in the submandibular gland and 11% in minor salivary glands. It is a rare tumor, which is more frequent in adults between their 4th and 9th decade of life; it is very rare in children. Swelling is usually the only symptom but sometimes it also causes pain and occasionally remains undiagnosed for ten years. It has been categorized into four types based on its histological pattern of growth: solid, membranous, trabecular and tubular4-6. Given its low incidence and scarce bibliographic information, it is often difficult to diagnose it7.

The aim of this study was to present a case of basal cell adenocarcinoma in the parotid deep lobe in a 52-year-old woman and to identify morphological and immunohistochemical characteristics that contribute to its diagnosis.

This work is part of the project called “The extracellular matrix and the myoepithelial component of epithelial tumors of human salivary glands: structural, histochemical, immunohistochemical and lectinhistochemical study”, authorized by the Ethics Committee of the National Clinical Hospital. School of Medical Sciences. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Argentina (File 188/14).

Clinical case

In November 2002 a 52-year-old female patient visited the dentist and otorhinolaryngology service since she felt pain in the left region of the mandible; a diagnosis was not reached. In December 2002 she went to a new appointment and a nodular mass was found in the left ascending ramus of the mandible, with increased pain on palpation. She was diagnosed with trigeminal neuralgia, ruling out the importance of the nodular lesion; physiotherapy was indicated for the cervical region. However, the pain continued to increase, so in December 2003 she underwent a biopsy puncture of an adenopathy, where an inflammatory process was identified.

In January 2004, a medical interconsultation was made with a head and neck surgeon who requested a CT scan of the neck which showed an image compatible with a tumor lesion. In February of the same year, a left parotid deep lobe tumor was excised with good postoperative evolution.

Anatomic pathology report: The macroscopy showed a slightly lobed, encapsulated mass, 5 cm x 1.7 cm x 1.2 cm of violet gray color with firm areas when cut. In the microscopic examination of the colored sections with H/E there was a fibrous capsule that surrounded the basaloid cells with pale eosinophilic cytoplasm and rounded or oval nuclei organized in sheets and nests of variable shapes and sizes, separated by bands of connective stroma. No areas of tumor necrosis, cellular atypia or mitotic figures were found.

The histological growth pattern was solid and tubular. The solid pattern presented nests and strands of contiguous basaloid cells that in the periphery of these structures formed a cellular layer organized in palisade cells.

In the tubular pattern there were basaloid cell islets that contained pseudocysts or prominent lumen lined with cuboid cells (Fig. 1A and B).

Fig. 1:  Histological patterns of basal cell adenocarcinoma 

The diagnosis of mixed type basal cell adenocarcinoma was made on the basis of its histological patterns (solid and tubular) and its malignant character, with an aggressive growth with infiltration of the tumor capsule and periparotid fat, perineural invasion and metastasis of a regional lymphoid node (Fig. 2A, B and C).

We then observed maxillary sinus involvement with bone metastasis.

Fig. 2:  Basal cell adenocarcinoma with infiltrating growth and metastasis 

Immunohistochemical labeling was used to find the differentiation of basaloid cells in epithelial (CK 19) and myoepithelial cells (p63 and α-smooth muscle actin) (Fig. 3A). The proliferating capacity of the tumor was studied with the marker for Ki-67. A positive score was given only if there were over 10% of marked cells8: the result was 25% of positive cells. (Fig. 3B).

The results are shown in Table 1.

Table 1: Immunohistochemical analysis of basal cell adenocarcinoma 

Marker Marked cell Reaction *
Ki- 67 (prognostic marker of cell proliferation) Epithelial cells (nuclei) Strong
p63 (myogenic differentiation) Myoepithelial cells (nuclei) Strong
Alpha-AML (myogenic differentiation) Myoepithelial cells (cytoplasm) Moderate
CK19 (epithelial differentiation) Epithelial cells (cytoplasm) Strong

Alpha-AML: α-smooth muscle actin. CK19: cytokeratin 19

* The qualitative assessment of the labeling was performed according to the intensity of coloration.

Fig. 3:  Immunohistochemical labeling of basal cell adenocarcinoma 

Given the results of the histopathological study, the patient was referred for oncological treatment, with indication of postoperative radiotherapy for six weeks, which began in March 2004. The treatment plan included the irradiation of the parotid plus the cervical region left at a total dose of 60 Gy, with a daily dose of 2 Gy. The complications were mucositis, dysphagia and mycosis, which, upon receiving specific treatment, improved at the end of the radiotherapy sessions.

In September 2004, an orthopantomography showed a cyst in the left horizontal ramus of the mandible and a vegetative image in the homolateral piriform sinus. The surgery was performed and the biopsy was negative for malignancy.

Subsequently, in March 2005, the pain in the hard palate and the left region of the maxilla began. A CAT scan was indicated and a lesion was identified at the maxillary floor level. The surgery was performed and metastasis was diagnosed in the floor of the maxillary sinus. A new radiotherapy plan was indicated, which had mucositis and dysphagia as complications.

The general condition of the patient worsened and she presented dehydration and drowsiness. The radiation therapy scheme could not be completed; palliative care was continued until her death two months later.

Discussion

Primary basaloid tumors of the salivary glands are lesions characterized by a predominance of “basaloid” epithelial cells with round or ovoid nuclei surrounded by a thin cytoplasm. The term “basaloid epithelial cells” arose from observations with standard histological techniques that do not make it possible to distinguish if there are myoepithelial or ductal or basal epithelial cells. In these cases, immunohistochemical labeling is a useful tool to detect both cell types, since it improves diagnostic accuracy. The immunohistochemistry panel used in the case described (p63, α-smooth muscle actin and CK19) was important for the diagnosis of the “basaloid” cells of this carcinoma9,10.

The heterogeneous tumoral group of basaloid epithelial cells includes benign tumors such as pleomorphic adenoma, and basal cell adenoma and malignant such as adenoid cystic carcinoma, undifferentiated small cell carcinoma, and basal cell adenocarcinoma10,11.

Basal cell adenocarcinoma mainly affects the parotid gland (more than 90%) and is histologically similar to basal cell adenoma. However, it presents an infiltrating growth and a low incidence of metastasis1,2,12.

It is generally considered a carcinoma of low degree of malignancy, locally destructive and with frequent recurrences. The recurrence period varies from six months to two years and only occasionally produces distant metastases12,13.

In this case the evolution was atypical, presented a bone metastasis in an early form, less than a year after the end of its treatment. This led to the deterioration of the general condition of the patient and her death. This can be explained by the late diagnosis of the lesion, with lymphoid node metastasis; and histological factors of poor prognosis such as capsular, perineural and periglandular fat invasion.

There is no predilection for gender, and 80% of tumors occur after 50 years of age with an average of 60 years of age14. This case corresponds to a 52-year-old woman.

Its histomorphological patterns are described as solid, membranous, tubular or trabecular. The solid pattern is the most frequent, characterized by solid cellular nests of different shapes and sizes. A collagen stroma, consisting of bands of different thickness, separates these nests that correspond to the most frequent histological pattern and with the highest risk of metastasis. In the membranous pattern there are abundant deposits of a strongly eosinophilic hyalinized basal membrane. The growth pattern is tubular when luminal spaces are formed between basaloid epithelial cells, whereas in trabecular growth, basaloid epithelial cells are arranged in interconnected cell bands15.

In our study, the tumor was located in the parotid gland with a mixed growth pattern since the basaloid epithelial cells were placed in solid and tubular areas.

Regarding the prevalence of this neoplasia in Latin America, in the consulted databases we only found data in two studies by Ruiz-Godoy and Rivera et al. and Ito et al.16,17.

In 1996 Ruiz-Godoy Rivera et al. conducted a clinicopathological study of six cases of basal cell adenocarcinoma analyzed at the Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, México16.

Ito et al. examined the archives of the Department of Pathology of the Instituto del Cáncer de Londrina (Paraná State, Brazil) for the years 1972-2001, and analyzed a total of 496 cases of major and minor salivary gland tumors. These researchers found only three cases of basal cell adenocarcinoma17.

Histologically, the main differential diagnosis is made with basal cell adenoma; but it also includes the solid variant of cystic adenoid carcinoma, basaloid squamous cell carcinoma and cutaneous basal cell carcinoma with deep invasion12,15.

Wilson and Robins claim that local invasion of the surrounding soft tissues and the gland are the best markers for differentiating the basal cell adenoma from basal cell adenocarcinoma. They also consider it important to complement the recognition of these tumors on the bases of invasion with proliferation markers such as Ki-67 and apoptosis markers18.

In a previous study we obtained a negative Ki-67 labeling in the basal cell adenoma, unlike the basal cell adenocarcinoma, where we observed a proliferation index greater than 25%, which also explains the unfavorable evolution of this patient10.

Saluja et al. also claim that the definitive diagnosis of malignancy is established by the invasive nature of the neoplasm in the surrounding tissues19.

On the other hand, Jung et al. report that basal cell adenoma with capsular invasion can also be considered an infiltrating tumor, which makes us question the category of basal cell adenocarcinoma. These authors say that the tumors do not have morphological differences, frequently develop a cribriform or solid growth pattern and are larger than the basal cell adenoma without capsular invasion. However, they consider that the cribriform structure of basal cell adenocarcinoma may correspond to a misdiagnosis of adenoid cystic carcinoma. In addition, the solid variant of adenoid cystic carcinoma presents cells with marked nuclear atypia and frequent mitosis7.

Although regional and distant metastases are not common, in this case there was metastasis in a regional lymphoid node and also in the maxillary sinus floor, which led to the patient’s death12.

In general, there is no consensus regarding its treatment, since some recommend local excision and others total parotidectomy, even in cases of membranous basal cell adenoma, as mentioned by Zhan et al.12.

For the primary treatment of the tumor, when it originates in the minor salivary glands, some authors consider that surgical excision should be wide to ensure its complete removal20.

In addition, there is no agreement on the role of radiotherapy. However, postoperative radiotherapy is recommended in the case of surgeries with positive surgical margins or surgical excision of recurrent tumors21,22.

Conclusions

Epithelial and myoepithelial cells coexist in the basal cell adenocarcinoma of the salivary glands, identified through immunohistochemical markers.

It is essential to obtain histological sections of the tumor interface with the normal gland or with the surrounding fat to evaluate tumor invasion.

Capsular, perineural and periparotid adipose tissue invasion, Ki-67 positive immunolabeling with a proliferative index of 25% and metastasis in a regional lymphoid node and in the maxillary sinus are factors of poor prognosis that, associated with late diagnosis, explain the unfavorable evolution of the patient.

Although it is a tumor with local aggressiveness and low incidence of metastasis, early diagnosis and early oncological care are of crucial importance to give these patients a greater chance for a cure

Referencias

1 - Eveson JW. WHO histological classification of tumours of the salivary glands. In: Barnes I, Eveson JW, Reichart P, Sidransky D editors. World Health Organization, classification of tumours, pathology and genetics of head and neck tumours. Lyon: IARC Press, 2005. [ Links ]

2 - Ellis GL, Auclair PL. Atlas of tumor pathology: Tumors of the major salivary glands. 4 serie. Fascículo 9. Washington DC. Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP). 2008. [ Links ]

3 - World Health Organization. International classification of diseases for oncology (ICD-O) - 3º ed. Malta. WHO, 2003. 252p. [ Links ]

4 - Samar ME, Avila RE. Glosario de histopatología: tumores epiteliales de las glándulas salivales. 2º ed. Córdoba. Samar ediciones, 2015. 96p. [ Links ]

5 - Sarafraz Z, Azaraein MH, Moghimi M, Musavi SA. Basal cell adenocarcinoma of the parotid gland in an elderly iranian woman and review of the literature. Otolaryngol (Sunnyvale) 2015; 5: doi: 10.4172/2161-119X.1000180. [ Links ]

6 - Ward BK, Seethala RR, Barnes EL, Lai SY. Basal cell adenocarcinoma of a hard palate minor salivary gland: case report and review of the literature. Head Neck Oncol. 2009; 1: 41. doi: 10.1186/1758-3284-1-41. [ Links ]

7 - Jung MJ, Roh JL, Choi SH, Nam SY, Kim SY, Lee S. Basal cell adenocarcinoma of the salivary gland: a morphological and histochemical comparison with basal cell adenoma with and without capsular invasion. Diag Pathol 2013; 8: 171. doi:10.1186/1746-1596-8-171. [ Links ]

8 - Thotakura M, Tirumalasetti N, Krishna R. Role of Ki-67 labeling index as an adjunct to the histopathological diagnosis and grading of astrocytomas. J Cancer Res Ther 2014; 10: 641-5. [ Links ]

9 - Seethala RR. Basaloid/blue salivary gland tumors. Modern Pathol 2017; 30: S84-S95. [ Links ]

10 - Samar ME, Avila RE, Fonseca I, Ferraris RV, Rabino ZM. Adenoma de células basales de glándulas salivales, variedades sólido y tubular: estudio histopatológico e inmunohistoquímico. Patología Rev Latinoam 2008; 46 (3): 276-83. [ Links ]

11 - Chhieng DC, Paulino AF. Basaloid tumors of the salivary glands. Ann Diag Pathol 2002; 6: 364-72. [ Links ]

12 - Zhan KY, Leutsch EJ. Basal cell adenocarcinoma of the major salivary glands: a population-level study of 509 cases. Laryngoscope 2016; 126 (5): 1089-90. [ Links ]

13 - Chen S, Yang S, Cheu X. Basal cell adenocarcinoma of the buccal minor salivary gland with liver metastasis. An Saudi Med 2015; 35 (4): 318-20. [ Links ]

14 - Sulakshana MS, Deepti SF, Dayananda BS. Basal cell adenocarcinoma of the salivary gland. A rare entity. IAIM 2015; 2/5: 156-9. [ Links ]

15 - Seethala RR; Barnes EL. Rare malignant and benign salivary gland epithelial tumors. Surg Pathol Clin 2011; 4: 1217-72. [ Links ]

16 - Ruiz-Godoy Rivera LA, Luna MA, Luévano Flores E, Mosqueda Taylor A, Barrera Franco JL, Meneses García A. Adenocarcinoma de células basales de glándula salival. Rev. Inst Nal Cancerol (Mex) 1996; 42: 16-21. [ Links ]

17 - Ito FA, Vargas PA, de Almeida OP, Lopes MA. Salivary glands tumors in a brasilian population: a retrospective study of 496 cases. Int J Oral Maxillofac Surg 2005; 34: 533-536. [ Links ]

18 - Wilson TC, Robins RA. Basal cell adenocarcinoma and basal cell adenoma of the salivary glands: A clinicopathological review of seventy tumors with comparison of morphologic features and growth control indices. Head and Neck Pathol 2015; 9: 205-13. [ Links ]

19 - Saluja K, Rao PH, Myers JN, El-Naggar AK. Novel t (1;3) (q21,p21) translocation in a basal cell adenocarcinoma of the parotid gland: potential association with tumorigenesis. Human Pathol 2016; 54: 189-92. [ Links ]

20 - Parashar P, Baron E, Papadimitriou JC, Ord RA, Nikitakis NG. Basal cell adenocarcinoma of the oral minor salivary glands: review of the literature and presentation of two cases. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 2007; 103:77-84. [ Links ]

21 - Hirsch DL, Miles C, Dierks E. Basal cell adenocarcinoma of the parotid gland: report of a case and review of the literature. J Oral Maxillofac Surg 2007; 65: 2385-8 [ Links ]

22 - Jayakrishnan A, Elmalah I, Hussain K, Odell EW. Basal cell adenocarcinoma in minor salivary glands. Histopathology 2003; 42: 610-4. [ Links ]

Received: January 09, 2017; Accepted: October 05, 2017

Creative Commons License Este es un artículo publicado en acceso abierto bajo una licencia Creative Commons