Calcitonin-secreting neuroendocrine tumors are rare and have been reported in literature as case reports or case series in various organs including lung, pancreas, larynx, bladder, and ovary. These tumors have similar cytologic features and immunohistochemical profile to medullary thyroid carcinoma and thus it is difficult to distinguish them, especially when calcitonin-secreting neuroendocrine tumors are intermediate or higher grade and there is a mass lesion in the thyroid gland. Here, we report a rare case of calcitonin secreting atypical carcinoid tumor of the lung in a patient with thyroid nodule. However, after extensive ancillary studies on the thyroid gland, no tumor was detected and subsequent resection specimen revealed a pulmonary atypical carcinoid tumor with metastasis to level 11 lymph node. Being aware of this entity has significant clinical, diagnostic, and therapeutic implications and can prevent unnecessary thyroidectomies with subsequent possible morbidities.

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Background Salivary duct carcinoma (SDC) is an uncommon and highly aggressive primary salivary gland neoplasm. Cytomorphologic features of SDC include cellular smears, nuclear atypia, prominent nucleoli, cribriform and papillary architecture, and background necrosis. The presence of oncocytic features has been described but not adequately characterized in the current literature. Method This study cohort consisted of 14 cases of histologically proven SDC with previous salivary gland fine needle aspiration (FNA). The cytologic material of each case was semi‐quantitatively analyzed and evaluated for various cytomorphologic, architectural, and background features. Results Twelve SDCs were located in the parotid gland and two in the submandibular gland. In two cases the initial cytologic diagnoses was Warthin tumor or favor Warthin tumor. Moderate to marked degree of oncocytic changes were noted in all cases except one case. Nuclear atypia was variable with most cases exhibiting moderate to high‐grade nuclear features, while four cases demonstrated low‐grade nuclear cytomorphology. Cytoplasmic vacuolation was seen in nine cases and variable amount of background necrosis was observed in eight cases. Cribriform and papillary architecture was recognized in only six cases. Background lymphocytes were absent in all but one case. Conclusions Precise diagnosis of SDC based on cytomorphologic features alone can be challenging. Oncocytic change is one of the most consistent features observed in this case series and when associated with less pronounced cytologic atypia, can potentially lead to misdiagnosis as Warthin tumor. SDC should be considered in the differential diagnosis of oncocytic salivary gland neoplasms where precise diagnosis is not possible.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is 1 of the possible aetiological factors in the development of oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). We aimed to study the role of HPV in ESCC. 140 cases of ESCC were analysed for the HPV DNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using GP5+/GP6+ primers for L1 open reading frame (ORF) to amplify a 150 bp segment of HPV L1 ORF. This region was subsequently sequenced to identify the type of HPV. Of the 140 patients enrolled to our study 50.7% were female and 49.3% were male, aged between 20 and 81 y. 33 tumour specimens (23.6%) and 12 (8.6%) non-involved tumour margins were HPV positive. From HPV positive tumour cases 36% were positive in tumour margins. The HPV positive cases were 21.7% male and 25.3% female. There is no correlation between presence and types of HPV with patients' gender and age. The frequency of HPV subtypes in tumoural regions was as follows: HPV-16, 60.6%; HPV-18, 30.3%; HPV-33, 6.1%; and HPV-31, 3%. We found only HPV-16 in tumour margins. Our results are consistent with HPV studies conducted in other high-risk areas for ESCC and provided further evidence to support a causal association of HPV infection with ESCC.

Chondrosarcoma (CS) of larynx is a rare laryngeal tumor accounting about 1% of laryngeal malignancies. When CS arises from thyroid cartilage, it may clinically present as a thyroid nodule. Here we report a rare case of CS of thyroid cartilage misinterpreted as medullary thyroid carcinoma. The main aim of this case report is to emphasize the important role of accurate clinical history, appropriate physical examination, and proper localization of the tumor and clear definitive imaging in conjunction with interpretation of cytologic smears. When any of these roles are unclear, it may result in misinterpretation of the cytologic smears. In these unusual circumstances, when cytomorphologic features does not completely fit an entity, communication with the physician and the consideration of a broad differential diagnoses in the head and neck pathology may lead to correct diagnosis and avoid diagnostic pitfalls. Also in certain conditions, ancillary studies including laboratory tests are necessary for definitive classification.