Epithelial tumours of salivary glands

Immunohistochemistry and differential diagnoses¹

EMA / CEA	highlights glandular structures	in adenoid cystic carcinoma
		in cellular pleomorphic adenoma (versus myoepithelioma)
		in solid epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma
		in basal cell carcinoma
myoepithelial markers (calponin, actin)	demonstrate a myoepithelial component	residual myoepithelial islands around tumour cells in intraductal carcinoma
amylase	diagnosis of acinic cell tumour (limited sensitivity)
anti-mitochondrial antibodies	identification of oncocytic tumours, especially their clear cell varaints
oestrogen receptor / CEA	differentiation of a primary salivary ductal carcinoma (ER negative, CEA positive) from a metastatic ductal carcinoma of breast (ER variable, CEA negative)
neuroendocrine markers, CK20 and TTF-1	small cell carcinomas; subtyping and differentiation of primary from metastatic tumours.
thyroglobulin	to differentiate the follicular variant of acinic cell tumour (negative) from a metastatic thyroid carcinoma (positive)

References

¹Diagnostic histopathology of tumors. Edited by CDM Fletcher. 2nd edition. Churchill Livingstone. Page 302.

This page last revised 1.6.2001.

©SMUHT/PW Bishop