ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The most common neoplasm of the parotid gland is the pleomorphic adenoma. The familial occurrence of such tumors arising within the parotid gland is rare, with only 3 previous reports in the literature. Bilateral synchronous pleomorphic adenomas of the parotid gland are also uncommon. We report 2 siblings with pleomorphic adenomas of the parotid gland, 1 of whom had bilateral synchronous mixed tumors. Patients and Methods Chromosomal analysis of tumor cells from the sibling with bilateral adenomas revealed the translocation t(3;12)(p21;q15). Chromosome 12q breakpoints have previously been identified in a wide variety of solid tumors including pleomorphic adenomas of the parotid gland. CONCLUSIONS: We discuss bilateral mixed tumors, familial parotid tumors, and the potential for a genetic predisposition for the recurrence of such parotid tumors, as suggested by characteristic chromosomal translocations associated with mixed tumors.
Subject(s)
Adenoma, Pleomorphic/genetics , Parotid Neoplasms/genetics , Adenoma, Pleomorphic/diagnosis , Adenoma, Pleomorphic/pathology , Adenoma, Pleomorphic/surgery , Chromosomes, Human, Pair 12 , Female , Genetic Predisposition to Disease , Humans , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Middle Aged , Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/genetics , Parotid Neoplasms/diagnosis , Parotid Neoplasms/pathology , Parotid Neoplasms/surgery , Translocation, GeneticABSTRACT
Microglandular adenocarcinoma of the endometrium may cause diagnostic problems because of its bland cytologic appearance and its histologic similarity to benign microglandular hyperplasia of the cervix. We present two cases of microglandular adenocarcinoma and discuss the clinical, pathologic, and immunohistochemical findings. Both patients were postmenopausal women, one of whom was taking exogenous hormones. Endometrial biopsy specimens contained polypoid tissue fragments, within which were microcystic spaces lined by flattened, cuboidal, or columnar cells. Solid nests or sheets of tumor cells surrounded glands in some tissue fragments. The nuclei were uniform and bland, and mitotic figures, although readily identifiable, were infrequent (1 per 10 high-power fields). A majority of tumor cells contained intracytoplasmic mucin. Numerous neutrophils were present in gland lumens and tissues. Immunohistochemical stains for carcinoembryonic antigen and TAG72 (B72.3) revealed focal moderate to intense apical and cytoplasmic staining; immunostains for p53 protein were negative. One carcinoma was confined to the endometrium, whereas the other invaded into the inner one-third of the myometrium. Both patients were well after a limited follow-up of 1 year. Microglandular adenocarcinoma is a distinctive variant of endometrial carcinoma that is most likely a form of mucinous adenocarcinoma.
