Adenoid cystic carcinoma (AdCC) comprises of less than 1% of all head and neck cancers and less than 10% of all salivary gland neoplasms. Dedifferentiation/high-grade transformation (HGT) in AdCC is a rare but well known phenomenon which is associated with aggressive clinical behaviour and poor prognosis. We herein report the clinical, cytologic, histologic and immunohistochemical findings of a left submandibular gland AdCC with transformation to high grade carcinomatous and probable dedifferentiation to sarcomatoid component, occurring in a 64 year old male patient. To the author's best knowledge, this is the first case report of such dual transformation occurring in adenoid cystic carcinoma.
Radiation recall dermatitis (RRD) is an extremely rare phenomenon. A variety of factors such as antineoplastic agents, pharmaceutical agents, physical and environmental factors have been proposed to be the underlying cause of RRD. Only a handful cases have been reported till date, where trastuzumab is sought to be the triggering agent. The presentation of RRD varies from mild erythematous to extensive confluent dermatitis, resolving over a period of 1 to 2 weeks with conservative management. Most of the patients tend to tolerate rechallenge well without showing reappearance. We hereby describe a lady with breast cancer having RRD following administration of trastuzumab. She developed reaction 28 days post-radiotherapy and managed conservatively. Furthermore, she was rechallenged with the same dose, that she tolerated very well, without any reappearance. Hence, an acquaintance of the clinicians to this rare entity is essential for timely diagnosis and appropriate management.
Othman Salim Akhtar, M.D. completed his training as a pathologist at SKIMS, Srinagar, before moving to Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York City where he joined the laboratory of Prof. Ari Melnick, carrying out research in lymphomas for 1 year. He returned to Hakim Sanaullah Cancer Center, a rural Cancer Center in North Kashmir, for a brief period to help establish diagnostic facilities there, before joining as a resident physician at the University at Buffalo,
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.