Myoepithelioma of the hard palate

ABSTRACT

Salivary gland myoepithelioma is a rare tumor accounting for less than 1% of neoplasms of the salivary glands which are usually located in parotid gland and minor salivary glands. A rare case of myoepithelioma occurred in the hard palate is reported. Histology and immunohistochemical features of this tumor are reviewed. The tumor was composed of plasmacytoid type of myoepithelial cells. These plasmacytoid cells or hyaline cells exhibited a diffuse positivity for cytokeratin AE1/3, S-100 and vimentin, but smooth muscle actin was focally positive. Immunohistochemical studies support the myoepithelial origin of this tumor. We thought that vimentin rather than smooth muscle actin might be a useful marker for myoepithelioma.