(1/66) Bone morphogenetic protein-6 is a marker of serous acinar cell differentiation in normal and neoplastic human salivary gland.

Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP-6, also known as vegetal-pale-gene-related and decaplentaplegic-vegetal-related) is a member of the transforming growth factor-beta superfamily of multifunctional signaling molecules. BMP-6 appears to play various biological roles in developing tissues, including regulation of epithelial differentiation. To study the possible involvement of BMP-6 in normal and neoplastic human salivary glands, we compared its mRNA and protein expression in 4 fetal and 15 adult salivary glands and in 22 benign and 32 malignant salivary gland tumors. In situ hybridization and Northern blot analysis indicated that BMP-6 transcripts are expressed at low levels in acinar cells of adult submandibular glands but not in ductal or stromal cells. BMP-6 was immunolocated specifically in serous acini of parotid and submandibular glands. None was found in primitive fetal acini or any other types of cell in adult salivary glands, including mucous acini and epithelial cells of intercalated, striated, and excretory ducts. All 16 cases of acinic cell carcinoma consistently exhibited cytoplasmic BMP-6 staining in the acinar tumor cells. Other cell types in these tumors, including intercalated duct-like cells, clear, vacuolated cells, and nonspecific glandular cells, exhibited no cytoplasmic BMP-6 staining. Other benign and malignant salivary gland tumors lacked BMP-6 immunoreactivity, except in areas of squamous differentiation. The results indicate that in salivary glands, BMP-6 expression is uniquely associated with acinar cell differentiation and suggest that BMP-6 may play a role in salivary gland function. More importantly, our experience of differential diagnostic problems related to salivary gland tumors suggests that the demonstration of consistent and specific BMP-6 immunoreactivity in acinic cell carcinoma is likely to be of clinical value.  (+info)

(2/66) Warthin-like tumor of the thyroid a case report.

A case of Warthin-like tumor of the thyroid (WaLTT) with cervical lymph node metastasis is presented. The problems of the FNA diagnosis of this type of tumor is discussed as well as the histogenesis, nature and behaviour of this peculiar tumor.  (+info)

(3/66) Follicle center lymphoma and Warthin tumor involving the same anatomic site. Report of two cases and review of the literature.

We report 2 cases of follicle center non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and Warthin tumor involving the same site. Case 1 is a 68-year-old woman with Warthin tumor and grade 1 follicular NHL involving a periparotid lymph node. She had localized NHL and was treated with radiation therapy; dissemination developed 54 months later. Case 2 is a 55-year-old man with a 17-year history of a parotid mass with gradual enlargement during the last 5 years. Surgical excision revealed Warthin tumor and grade 1 follicular NHL involving the right parotid gland and surrounding lymph nodes. Immunohistochemical studies supported the diagnosis of NHL in both cases; the neoplasms were positive for CD20 and BCL-2 and negative for CD3. Polymerase chain reaction analysis done on paraffinembedded tissue of case 1 revealed monoclonal immunoglobulin heavy chain gene rearrangement and bcl-2/JH fusion DNA sequences diagnostic of the t(14;18)(q32;q21). The small size of the Warthin tumor in case 1, clearly arising in lymph node, supports the hypothesis that Warthin tumor arises from heterotopic salivary gland ducts within lymph nodes. The localized NHL in both patients suggests that the NHL initially arose in the lymph node involved by Warthin tumor, and, thus, the Warthin tumor may have provided a source of long-term antigenic stimulation from which a monoclonal B-cell population subsequently arose.  (+info)

(4/66) Mucoepidermoid carcinoma involving Warthin tumor. A report of five cases and review of the literature.

We describe 5 cases of mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) involving Warthin tumor (WT) of the parotid gland. The WT size ranged from 1.7 to 6.0 cm. The MECs were much smaller, 0.3 to 1.7 cm. In 3 cases, the WT completely surrounded the MEC, and in 2 cases neither WT nor MEC surrounded the other. Each MEC was low grade, 3 grade I and 2 grade II. One MEC had evidence of vascular invasion. All patients underwent partial or subtotal parotidectomy with negative resection margins. Clinical follow-up (range, 8-52 months) for 3 patients showed no evidence of recurrence. The pathogenetic relationship between WT and MEC in these cases is uncertain. In 4 cases, foci of squamous or mucous metaplasia were found in the WT component, associated with mild cytologic atypia in 3 tumors. However, a direct transition from WT to MEC was not identified. In 1 case, MEC was present 45 months before WT, suggesting that the recurrent MEC involved WT coincidentally. The small size and low grade of the MEC and the negative resection margins most likely explain the good outcome for the 3 patients with clinical follow-up data available.  (+info)

(5/66) Guanylin and functional coupling proteins in the human salivary glands and gland tumors : expression, cellular localization, and target membrane domains.

Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR)-mediated secretion of an electrolyte-rich fluid is a major but incompletely understood function of the salivary glands. We provide molecular evidence that guanylin, a bioactive intestinal peptide involved in the CFTR-regulated secretion of electrolyte/water in the gut epithelium, is highly expressed in the human parotid and submandibular glands and in respective clinically most relevant tumors. Moreover, in the same organs we identified expression of the major components of the guanylin signaling pathway, ie, guanylin-receptor guanylate cyclase-C, cGKII, and CFTR, as well as of the epithelial Cl(-)/HCO(3)(-) anion exchanger type 2 (AE2). At the cellular level, guanylin is localized to epithelial cells of the ductal system that, based on its presence in the saliva, is obviously released into the salivary gland ducts. The guanylin-receptor guanylate cyclase-C, cGKII, CFTR, and AE2 are all confined exclusively to the apical membrane of the same duct cells. These findings implicate guanylin as intrinsic regulator of electrolyte secretion in the salivary glands. We assume that duct epithelial cells synthesize and release guanylin into the saliva to regulate electrolyte secretion in the ductal system by an intraductal luminocrine signaling pathway. Moreover, the high expression of guanylin in pleomorphic adenoma and Warthin tumors (cystadenolymphoma), the most common neoplasms of salivary glands, predicts guanylin as a significant marker in tumor pathology.  (+info)

(6/66) Lymphadenoma arising in the parotid gland: a case report.

We report a case of lymphadenoma arising in the parotid gland. A 53-year-old female patient presented with a mass in the parotid gland. Grossly, it was a well-demarcated solid mass measuring 3 cm in diameter. Microscopic examination revealed many cysts or duct-like structures in the background of the prominent lymphoid stroma, confirming a diagnosis of lymphadenoma. This particular case was thought to have arisen from an intraparotid lymph node. Lymphadenoma is a rare benign neoplasm of the salivary gland with partial resemblance to other salivary gland tumors, such as Warthin's tumor, cystadenoma, sebaceous lymphadenoma or mucoepidermoid carcinoma. Therefore proper recognition of this rare entity is warranted to avoid confusion in the diagnosis.  (+info)

(7/66) Poorly differentiated carcinoma arising from adenolymphoma of the parotid gland.

BACKGROUND: There is only one previous case report of a poorly differentiated carcinoma arising from an adenolymphoma of the parotid gland (Warthin's tumour). The absence of clinical symptoms, and the aspecificity of the radiological pattern make the diagnosis very difficult. CASE PRESENTATION: We here report the case of a 73-year-old man with Warthin's tumour who was brought to our attention because of a swelling in the parotid region. CONCLUSIONS: In this case with an atypical clinical presentation, the intra-operative examination of a frozen section of the parotid mass allowed us to diagnose the malignant tumour correctly and consequently undertake its radical excision.  (+info)

(8/66) Salivary gland tumors in a Brazilian population: a retrospective study of 124 cases.

Salivary gland tumors constitute a highly heterogeneous histopathologic group. There are few epidemiological studies of large series of benign and malignant salivary gland tumors in Brazil. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Hospital records of 124 patients with salivary gland tumors diagnosed from January 1993 to December 1999 were reviewed. The patients were analyzed according to gender, age, size, location, and histopathology of the tumor. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Patients with benign and malignant tumors presented with a mean age of 47.7 and 48.8 years, respectively. The frequency of benign tumors was 80% (n = 99) and malignant tumors 20% (n = 25). Tumors were localized in the parotid gland 71% (n = 88), in the submandibular gland 24% (n = 30), and in the minor salivary glands 5% (n = 6). The most common benign tumors were pleomorphic adenoma in 84% (n = 84) and Warthin's tumor in 13% (n = 13). Among malignant tumors, mucoepidermoid carcinoma was the most common in 52% (n = 13), adenoid cystic carcinoma occurred in 20% (n = 5), and carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma was detected in 12% (n = 3).  (+info)

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