Poorly-differentiated adenoid cystic carcinoma: Cytologic appearance in fine-needle aspirates of distant metastases

✍ Scribed by Gordon H. Yu; Nancy P. Caraway

• Book ID: 102651657
• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1996
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 736 KB
• Volume: 15
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 8755-1039
• DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1097-0339(199611)15:4<296::aid-dc9>3.0.co;2-c

✦ Synopsis

Adenoid cystic carcinoma {ACC) is a pnmary salivary-gland neoplasm which ppically vields characteristic cvtomotphologv upon fine-needle aspiration (FNA). We report on the FNA findings of a case of ACC metastatic to the liver which demonstrated a prehminantlv solid, poorly-differentiated pattern. an unusual but wellrecogni:ed subrype associated with a poor clinical outcome.

The FNA findings in 7 additional cases of ACC metastatic to distant sites were also reviewed, with 4 cases disphying a prominent poorlydifferentiated component. These findings suggest that, although not commonly recogni:d in salivary-gland FNAs. the poorlydifferentiated pattern of ACC does occur in metastatic deposits and should be recognized as such. thereby preventing a needless search for a second primary malignancy.