Colonic-Type Adenocarcinoma of the Base of the Tongue: A Case Report of a Rare Neoplasm

Abstract

Lingual adenocarcinomas (ADC), either primary or metastatic to the tongue are extraordinarily rare neoplasms. Primary lingual adenocarcinomas are primarily of minor salivary gland origin. Two cases of primary colonic-type adenocarcinomas of the base of the tongue were recently reported for the first time in the English literature. We present an additional case of lingual intestinaltype adenocarcinoma with mucinous features that occurred in association with cervical node metastasis and discuss the clinicopathologic features and histogenetic aspects of this rare entity.

Primary Intestinal-Type Adenocarcinoma of Tongue: A Case Report with Immunohistochemical and Molecular Profiles and Review of the Literature

“…As in previous reports [3][4][5], the neoplasm occurred in the absence of a primary large intestine adenocarcinoma. Despite the histopathological characteristics of intestinal adenocarcinoma of the tumour, and diffuse positive nuclear immunostaining with CDX2, we concluded that the lesion was primary, because lingual metastatic intestinal adenocarcinomas are usually preceded by colonic manifestations [9][10][11].…”

“…Intestinal-type lingual adenocarcinoma is an extremely rare disease with few case reported in the literature [3][4][5].…”

“…The rare types of carcinomas such as cribriform adenocarcinoma and hyalinising clear cell carcinoma, also involve the tongue with a non-random preference [1,2]. Primary colonic type adenocarcinoma of the tongue is a recently reported neoplasm with only four cases described in the literature [3][4][5].…”

Adenosquamous Carcinoma of Hypopharynx with Intestinal-Phenotype

“…Primary non-sinonasal ITACs of the head and neck are exceedingly rare tumors with only seven cases described in the base of the tongue, major salivary glands, pharynx, and larynx [9][10][11][12][13]. Non-sinonasal ITACs have heterogeneous microscopic appearance and are composed of glands and tubules lined by columnar cells similar to those of colorectal adenocarcinomas [9,12,13], with some neoplasm containing a variable or prominent mucinous (colloid) component, signet-ring cells or poorly differentiated carcinoma [10,11].…”

“…Immunohistochemically, ITACs stain diffusely for CK20, CDX2, CEA, Villin and are variably positive for CK7. Adenocarcinomas with an intestinal phenotype occurring outside of the sinonasal tract are extremely uncommon with only rare examples arising in the base of the tongue, major salivary glands, pharynx, and larynx [9][10][11][12][13]. To the best of our knowledge, an intestinal phenotype in ADSCs of the hypopharynx has not been previously reported.…”