Follicular thyroid adenoma with papillary architecture

@#A 23-year-old woman underwent left thyroid lobectomy and isthmusectomy for a 2 cm diameter firm mass on the left side of the neck that was also visualized on ultrasonography. The specimen consisted of a 22-gram thyroid gland composed of the left lobe, isthmus and a pyramidal lobe. Cut section of the left lobe showed a 3.5 cm diameter solitary, discrete and encapsulated mass with a tan lobulated and solid cut surface. The rest of the thyroid tissues had red-brown meaty cut surfaces. Microscopic section shows a follicular-patterned proliferation enclosed by a thin fibrous capsule with frequent Sanderson polster-like papillary excrescences. (Figures 1 and 2) Both the follicular and the papillary structures are lined by cuboidal to columnar follicular epithelial cells that had ample eosinophilic to pale cytoplasm and uniformly sized, minimally enlarged, generally round, and monolayered nuclei without nuclear grooving, folds, pseudoinclusions, and chromatin clearing. There are no mitotic figures seen. Some of the papillary structures have delicate vascular cores. (Figure 3) There are no psammoma bodies noted. The follicles contain variable amounts of pale eosinophilic colloid ranging from colloid-poor crowded follicles to those with ample colloid that have frequent peripheral scalloping. (Figure 4) Exhaustive sections failed to disclose capsular or vascular invasion. Based on the microscopic features, a diagnosis of follicular adenoma with papillary architecture was rendered.

Epithelial-Myoepithelial carcinoma of the lacrimal gland - Case report and review of literature

Objective@#To describe the clinicopathologic features and outcome of a patient with epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma of the lacrimal gland who underwent modified lateral orbitotomy with en toto removal of the lesion and adjuvant radiotherapy.@*Methods@#This is a case report.@*Results@#A 31-year-old Filipino male seafarer presented with a 2-month history of an enlarging left superotemporal orbital mass and inferonasal displacement of the globe. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a superotemporal extraconal mass within the lacrimal sac fossa with evidence of osseous infiltration of the superolateral orbital rim. Modified lateral orbitotomy was performed with en toto removal of the lesion and the clinically infiltrated adjacent lateral bony margin. Histopathologic diagnosis of epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma of the lacrimal gland was made based on the classic and distinct biphasic morphology and was confirmed with immunohistochemistry studies (cytokeratin-7, S-100, and p63). Systemic surveillance using positron emission tomography and computed tomography scan with contrast revealed no evidence of regional or distant metastasis. Adjuvant radiotherapy of the orbital area was performed for increased local control. Twelve months postoperatively, the patient showed no evidence of tumor recurrence.@*Conclusion@#Epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma of the lacrimal gland is a rare condition, and this is the first documented case from the Philippines. Accurate diagnosis is necessary for appropriate treatment. It should be included in the differential diagnosis of infiltrative lesions in the lacrimal gland fossa.

Acantholytic squamous cell carcinoma

@#A 63-year-old Filipino man presented with a one-month history of painful ulceration on the alveolar socket of a molar tooth of the right hemimandible. The patient consulted at a tertiary hospital, where he underwent incisional biopsy.

Inverted ductal papilloma of the salivary gland

@#This is a case consult of slides stated to be from an excision of a buccal mucosa mass in a 58-year-old-man. The specimen was described as a 3 cm diameter roughly oval tan-gray tissue with a 2 x 1.5 cm mucosal ellipse on the surface that has a central ulcerated punctum. Cut section showed an underlying 1.7 cm diameter roughly oval well-circumscribed mass with a granular tan surface. Histological sections show a papillary lesion with an orifice on the mucosal surface and with epithelial nests invaginating into the underlying lamina propria in a non-infiltrative pattern. (Figure 1) The lesion is composed of papillary epithelial fronds with cleft-like spaces between the fronds. (Figure 2) The papillary fronds are lined by non-keratinizing basaloid stratified squamous cells with a superficial layer of columnar glandular cells along with mucous goblet cells interspersed among the squamous cells. (Figure 3) All the cellular components are devoid of cytologic atypia and mitoses. Based on these microscopic features we signed the case out as inverted ductal papilloma (IDP).

Botryoid odontogenic cyst

@#A 70-year-old man consulted for a mass of unspecified duration in the anterior area of the mandible. Radiologic information was not provided. An incision biopsy was performed by the dentistry service. The specimen received at the laboratory was labeled “cystic lining” and consisted of two light-gray to dark brown, irregularly shaped tissue fragments measuring 0.3 cm and 0.4 cm in diameters.

Nasopharyngeal Tuberculosis in a Philippine Tertiary General Hospital

Objectiv@#This study aimed to determine the prevalence of nasopharyngeal tuberculosis among patients who were initially assessed to have a nasopharyngeal mass and subsequently underwent biopsy in a Philippine Tertiary General Hospital from 2013 to 2015. @*Methods@#Design: Case Series. Setting: Tertiary National University Hospital. Participants: All patients with nasopharyngeal mass identified from January 2013 to December 2015 from a hospital wide census who underwent biopsy were investigated using chart and histopathology review. The prevalence of tuberculosis, malignancies and other findings were determined.@*Results@#Among 285 nasopharyngeal biopsies done between 2013 and 2015, 33 (11.6%) were histologically compatible with nasopharyngeal tuberculosis, 177 (62.1%) were different types of nasopharyngeal carcinoma, 59 (20.7%) were chronic inflammation, 4 (1.4%) were lymphoma, 5 (1.8%) were normal, and 7 (2.5 %) had diagnoses other than those above. @*Conclusion@#This study suggests a relatively high prevalence rate (11.6%) of nasopharyngeal tuberculosis in patients who have a nasopharyngeal mass. This indicates that nasopharyngeal tuberculosis should always be a differential when confronted with a mass in the nasopharynx especially in tuberculosis endemic areas.

Intracapsular carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma

@#<p style="text-align: justify;">This is the case of a 37-year-old female patient presenting with a 10-year history of a gradually enlarging right infra-auricular mass. A parotidectomy was performed. The surgical pathology specimen consisted of an 18 cm diameter encapsulated nodular mass with a homogenous, cream-tan solid surface. Microscopic section showed an encapsulated neoplasm with abundant chondromyxoid stroma and tubular epithelial elements characteristic of a pleomorphic adenoma. (Figure 1) Randomly scattered within the tumor were foci of haphazard and complex glands. (Figure 2) These glands exhibited nuclear pleomorphism, luminal necrosis, and mitoses compatible with an adenocarcinomatous proliferation. (Figure 3) Based on these features, the case was signed out as an intracapsular carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma is a carcinoma arising from a pre-existing pleomorphic adenoma. The antecedent benign tumor may either be a long-standing one, often with a history measured in decades, or characterized by a protracted history of excisions and multiple recurrences.1,2 The carcinoma on the other hand is either epithelial or myoepithelial in derivation. By morphologic sub-type, the most commonly reported carcinoma arising in a pleomorphic adenoma is a salivary duct carcinoma or an adenocarcinoma that is not otherwise specified (NOS).1,3 Residual pleomorphic adenoma tissue is identifiable either in its typical morphology, a chondromyxoid stroma, or a hyalinized sclerotic nodule.1</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Aside from the type of carcinoma arising from the pleomorphic adenoma, another parameter that has to be reported is the extent of involvement by the carcinomatous component. A carcinoma that is entirely limited to within the parent tumor that is still enclosed by a complete capsule is termed an "intracapsular" or "non-invasive" carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma.1,2 Once the carcinoma breaches the capsule and infiltrates the surrounding tissue, then it is considered invasive. If the invasion is less than 4 - 6 mm beyond the capsular border, the tumor is termed "minimally invasive". Carcinomatous elements that extend beyond this threshold is termed "widely invasive".1 This threshold is greater than the previous threshold of 1.5 mm recommended in an earlier edition of the WHO classification although the present edition does state that this threshold is preliminary and requires further validation.1,2,4 It has to be pointed out though that quantifying invasion may not always be possible in tumors that have positive margins, those that are intrinsically unencapsulated such as minor salivary gland tumors, and those with complex multinodular growth patterns such as in recurrent pleomorphic adenoma.1 This difficulty has to be stated in the report and what conditions preclude quantifying the degree of invasion.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Non-invasive carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma has quite a good outcome with very low reported rates of recurrence or regional metastasis. In a review of thirty cases and a report of an additional three cases, only one case showed recurrence or metastasis.3 This favorable outcome certainly contrasts with that of the widely invasive type where metastasis is reported to occur in up to 70% of cases.1 Another review of ten cases showed one case developing metastasis, and recommended that non-invasive cases should thus still be followed up closely after primary treatment because regional or distant metastasis can occur.2 </p><p style="text-align: justify;">To the best of our knowledge, there are no published local data on the incidence of early malignant transformation of pleomorphic adenomas in the Filipino population. Hence, we take this opportunity to report this case. Awareness of the entity and prudent liberal sampling of these tumors may help address this gap.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p>

Glomangiopericytoma: The sinonasal mimic of soft tissue hemangiopericytoma

@#A 42-year old Filipino male with a 10-month history of progressive left nasal obstruction and rhinorrhea and a clinical impression of nasal polyposis underwent endoscopic sinus surgery with partial ethmoidectomy and polypectomy. We received several dark-brown, irregular, rubbery tissue fragments with an aggregate diameter of 3 cm. Histopathologic examination shows sheets of spindly tumor cells beneath the respiratory epithelial lining. These spindle cells are closely packed and arranged in short fascicles and storiform clusters surrounding hyalinized large vessels or thin-walled submucosal blood vessels. (Figures 1 and 2) There is no atypia or necrosis. Immunohistochemical studies show strong immunoreactivity to muscle specific actin, and focal reactivity to S-100. (Figure 3) Stains for CD34, caldesmon, cytokeratin, and desmin, are negative. (Figure 4) Based on these features, we diagnosed the case as glomangiopericytoma. Glomangiopericytoma is a rare tumor arising from the pericytes surrounding capillaries, and accounts for less than 0.5% of all sinonasal tumors.1 It has a very slight female preponderance, with a peak incidence during the seventh decade of life. The most common symptom is nasal obstruction, or epistaxis, with accompanying difficulty breathing, sinusitis and headache. A mass, or polyp is the most common clinical finding.2 Hematoxylin–eosin staining shows a well-delineated but unencapsulated cellular tumor underneath the normal respiratory epithelium that effaces or surrounds adjacent normal structures.2 The tumor is composed of closely packed, uniform, oval to spindle-shaped cells, in short fascicles and in storiform, whorled or palisaded patterns. The cells surround numerous branching thin-walled, blood vessels, thus the morphologic resemblance to soft tissue hemangiopericytoma/solitary fibrous tumor. However, in contrast to hemangiopericytoma, glomangiopericytoma shows diffuse reactivity to muscle actins, and non-reactivity to CD34, while hemangiopericytoma shows the reverse reactions. Desmin and caldesmon are likewise non-reactive, distinguishing the tumor from leiomyomas or leiomyosarcomas of the upper aerodigestive tract. Cytokeratin non-reactivity distinguishes it from spindle cell carcinoma. S100, although typically negative, can be focally and weakly positive in a small percentage of tumor.3 Glomangiopericytoma is categorized as a borderline low malignancy tumor with an overall survival of >90% in 5 years but which tends to recur in up to 30% of cases. Strict follow-up is thus required, especially if complete resection is not achieved.1

Low-grade cribriform cystadenocarcinoma of the parotid gland

@#This is the case of a 44-year-old woman with a one-year history of a left pre-auricular mass. The surgical specimen is a 5 centimeter diameter tan-brown irregularly-shaped tissue whose cut surfaces are brown with cystic spaces. Microscopic sections show cystic and dilated ductal spaces lined by cells forming irregular, variably-sized secondary spaces. These spaces are arranged in a cribriform pattern that is reminiscent of breast ductal hyperplasia. (Figure 1) The ductal cells lining the spaces are small, multilayered, and generally bland. The superficial cells show apocrine-type cytoplasmic snouting. There is no significant nuclear atypia or mitotic activity noted. Necrosis is also absent. (Figure 2) Based on these features, we signed the case as a low-grade cribriform cyastadenocarcinoma (LGCCC).

Granulation tissue mimicking a glomus tumor in a patient with chronic middle ear infection

@#<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>OBJECTIVE:</strong> To present an unusual cause of pulsatile tinnitus, presenting in a young adult suffering from chronic recurrent foul-smelling discharge from the same ear.<br /><strong>METHODS:</strong><br /><strong>Design:</strong> Case Report<br /><strong>Setting:</strong> Tertiary National University Hospital<br /><strong>Patient:</strong> One<br /><strong>RESULTS:</strong> A 24 year-old woman presented with pulsatile tinnitus on a background of chronic recurrent foul-smelling discharge. Clinico-radiologic findings seemed consistent with a glomus tympanicum coexisting with chronic suppurative otitis media with cholesteatoma. She underwent tympanomastoidectomy with excision of the mass. Histopathologic evaluation revealed the mass to be granulation tissue.<br /><strong>CONCLUSION:</strong> Pulsatile tinnitus is rarely associated with chronic middle ear infection. Granulation tissue arising at the promontory may mimic glomus tumors when accompanied with this symptom. Despite this revelation, it would still be prudent to prepare for a possible glomus tumor intraoperatively so that profuse bleeding and complications may be avoided.</p>

Metastasizing ameloblastoma

@#A 27-year-old man presented with an 8 cm diameter left maxillary mass and an enlarged cervical lymph node at levels II to III. There was a reported history of a previous unspecified operation on the maxillary mass which had yielded a diagnosis of ameloblastoma. Total maxillectomy with modified radical neck dissection was subsequently performed. Microscopic examination of the maxillary mass shows epithelial islands and cords in a fibro-collagenous stroma. (Figure 1) The islands and cords are lined in the periphery by palisaded columnar cells with regular ovoid nuclei exhibiting reverse polarization. The nuclei are uniform with dispersed chromatin and no significant atypia. Towards the center of these islands are loosely arranged spindly to stellate cells (“stellate reticulum”). (Figure 2) Microscopic examination of the largest submitted lymph node shows an epithelial neoplasm with identical histologic features as the maxillary mass and a residual rim of lymphoid tissue at the periphery enclosed by the nodal capsule. (Figure 3) Similarly, there is neither atypia nor pleomorphism and only a few typical mitotic figures are seen in the nodal tumor. (Figure 4) These features support the diagnosis of a metastasizing ameloblastoma (MA).

Hyalinizing trabecular tumor of the thyroid gland

@#A 34-year-old woman with a 4-year history of a slowly enlarging thyroid gland underwent a total thyroidectomy. Histologic sections showed multinodular colloid goiter. In addition, a 1.2 centimeter diameter discrete mass with a solid white cut surface was noted within the left lobe. Sections from the left lobe mass show a well-demarcated tumor whose cells are arranged in trabecular and nested growth patterns. (Figure 1) The cells are polygonal to spindly and have ample eosinophilic, slightly granular cytoplasm and oval to angular nuclei that are often grooved. (Figure 2) Hyaline material and a delicate fibrovascular stroma surround the nests and trabeculae, and occasional psammoma bodies are seen. (Figure 3) These features led us to a diagnosis of hyalinizing trabecular tumor.

Polymorphous low-grade adenocarcinoma

@#A 60-year-old woman with a 3-year history of a gingivoalveopalatal mass underwent an incision biopsy. Microscopically, the lesion centered in the stroma is infiltrative (Fig. 1) and architecturally diverse, having cystic (Fig. 2), linear or “Indian file” (Fig. 3), solid, and tubular (Fig. 4) patterns. The cells are uniform in size, round to oval, and have bland cytologic features, with vesicular nuclei and inconspicuous nucleoli (Figure 4). The clinical data and histomorphologic features characterized by architectural diversity yet cytologic blandness lead us to the diagnosis of polymorphous low-grade adenocarcinoma. Polymorphous low-grade adenocarcinoma (PLGA) is a malignant epithelial tumor characterized by cytologic uniformity, morphologic diversity, an infiltrative growth pattern, and low metastatic potential.1 It is the second most common intraoral malignant salivary gland tumor 1 following mucoepidermoid carcinoma. The tumor is found almost exclusively in minor salivary glands and is rare in extraoral locations, including major salivary glands.2 The tumor affects a wide age range (16 – 95 years; mean 60 years), with only 2 pediatric cases reported,1 and has a female predilection.3,4 It usually presents as a painless mass located within the oral cavity,3 60% of which are located in the palate.1 They are characteristically unencapsulated, although well-circumscribed.

Ceruminous adenoma

@#A 58-year-old Filipino man with a two-year history of a left external auditory canal mass associated with ipsilateral hearing loss underwent polypectomy for a clinical impression of aural polyp. We received several cream tan, irregular tissue fragments with an aggregate diameter of 1.4 cm. Histopathologic examination shows clusters of tumor cells forming variably sized ducts and glands, some of which are cystically dilated; many of these structures have irregular lumina. (Figure 1) Higher magnification shows a dual cell population: an outer layer of round to ovoid cells with clear cytoplasm, corresponding to basal myoepithelial cells; and an inner layer of cuboidal to columnar cells, that have eosinophilic and granular cytoplasm with decapitating apical ends, corresponding to luminal epithelial cells with apocrine morphology. (Figure 2) Nuclear pleomorphism is mild to moderate, nucleoli are not prominent, and mitoses, perineural invasion and necrosis are not seen. In some glands a yellow to golden brown, coarse pigment is seen at the cytoplasm of the luminal cells. (Figure 3) The tumor does not involve the epidermis, and there is a variable amount of chronic inflammation. (Figure 4) Based on these features we diagnosed it as ceruminous adenoma.

Epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma of the salivary gland

@#The World Health Organization (2005) defines an epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma (EMC) as a malignancy composed of two cell types that typically form duct-like structures.1 We present herein an archival case from the parotid gland. EMC occurs primarily in the major salivary glands particularly in the parotid where it presents as a painless, slow-growing mass.1 Microscopic examination shows bi-layered tubular duct-like structures with pale to clear areas (Figure 1). The inner luminal layer is composed of cuboidal cells that are of epithelial derivation while the outer layer is composed of polygonal cells that are of myoepithelial derivation (Figures 2 and 3). The latter typically have abundant clear cytoplasm.1,2 The epithelial-myoepithelial dualism is confirmed using immunohistochemical stains; the epithelial cells being immunoreactive for low molecular weight keratin and the myoepithelial cells for S-100 protein, muscle specific actin, vimentin and p63.1, 3 EMC is primarily a tumor of adulthood with peak incidence in the sixth and seventh decades. First described by Donath et al. in 1972,3 they are rare salivary gland neoplasms with an incidence of less than 1% arising mainly in the parotid gland4 although they have been documented in the lungs.5 Perineural and vascular invasion are frequent and recurrence occurs in around 40% of cases and metastasis in 14%.1 Although thought to be of low-grade malignancy, fatal courses have been described4 and “analysis of the various series have demonstrated that tumors with a solid growing pattern, nuclear atypia, DNA aneuploidy and high proliferative activity, generally have a more aggressive behavior and a higher frequency of local recurrences and metastases.”3

Calcifying cystic odontogenic tumor associated with a complex odontoma

@#We present a case of a 16-year-old lad with a one year history of gingival mass of the left maxillary alveolar ridge. Excision revealed a cystic mass with brown fluid and irregular calcified material within the cavity. Histopathologic examination of the cyst lining shows a stratified cuboidal epithelium with palisading of the basal layer. The cells of the latter show reverse nuclear polarization reminiscent of ameloblastic epithelium. The superficial layers have a stellate reticulum-like appearance and contain large eosinophilic polygonal ghost cells. (Figure 1, 2) Some of the ghost cells show calcifications. (Figure 3) Sections from the hard, bony fragments show haphazard deposition of dentin and enamel-like material. (Figure 4) With these features, this case was called a calcifying cystic odontogenic tumour in association with a complex odontoma. Calcifying cystic odontogenic tumor (CCOT) is a benign neoplasm characterized by an ameloblastoma-like epithelium with ghost cells that often show calcification.1 It comprises only 2% of all benign odontogenic neoplasms.2 There is equal distribution of involvement for the maxilla and mandible, no sex predilection, with most cases diagnosed at the 2nd to 3rd decade of life.1,2 The classic histologic findings are the presence of a stratified epithelium consisting of cuboidal to columnar cells with reverse polarization of the basal layer and the presence of ghost cells. A stellate reticulum-like appearance of epithelial cells is also seen. Ghost cells are the most characteristic feature of CCOT and this may represent an abnormal type of keratinization or the coagulative necrosis of the odontogenic epithelium.

Spindle cell carcinomas of the upper aerodigestive tract

@#A 65-year-old male with a two-month history of cough and hoarseness underwent direct laryngoscopy which showed a 1.5 cm diameter polypoid glottic mass. A polypectomy was performed revealing spindle cell carcinoma. The World Health Organization (2005) defines a spindle cell carcinoma as “a biphasic tumor composed of a squamous cell carcinoma, either in-situ and/or invasive, and a malignant spindle cell component with a mesenchymal appearance, but of epithelial origin.”1 Spindle cell carcinomas go by a variety of synonyms such as sarcomatoid carcinoma, spindle cell squamous carcinoma and carcinosarcoma. The larynx is a preferred site of involvement where they often present as polypoid masses.1,3 Microscopic examination often shows predominance of the sarcomatoid, spindle-cell component, which can range from fairly bland, reactive-looking fibroblastic-proliferation-like processes, to cytologically malignant and mitotically active proliferations that mimic other spindle-cell sarcomas such as leiomyosarcoma, fibrosarcoma or malignant fibrous histiocytoma.1,2,3 (Figure 1, double arrows) The squamous cell carcinoma component may be in the form of an overlying carcinoma-in-situ, or of a focal keratinizing invasive squamous cell carcinoma that requires multiple sections to disclose.1,2 (Figure 1, single arrow) Cytokeratin-reactivity in the spindle cells, which may be quite focal as in this case, points to their epithelial derivation.1,2,4 (Figure 2) Favorable prognostic findings include polypoid morphology and, like conventional laryngeal squamous cell carcinomas, a low-stage and a glottic site of origin. Reported 5-year survival rates range from 65 – 95%.

Primary sinonasal ameloblastoma in a Filipino female

@#<p style="text-align: justify;">Primary sinonasal ameloblastoma is an extremely rare odontogenic epithelial tumor histomorphologically identical to its gnathic counterparts but with distinct epidemiologic and clinicopathologic characteristics. We present a case of a 46-year-old female with a one year history of recurrent epistaxis, nasal obstruction and frontonasal headache. Clinical examination, CT scan and subsequent surgical excsion revealed an intranasal mass attached to the lateral nasal cavity with histomorphologic features of ameloblastoma and was signed out as extragnathic soft tissue ameloblastoma of the sinonasal area. Extraosseous extragnathic primary sinonasal ameloblastoma are rare but do occur and should be distinguished from infrasellar craniopharyngiomas.</p>