Distant Metastases from Salivary Glands Cancer

Abstract

Patients who present with malignant salivary glands should at their initial assessment have an X-ray of the chest to exclude the possibility of distant metastases. Patients who have other symptoms, bone pain etc., should be appropriately investigated. The likelihood of patients developing distant metastases is associated with high-grade tumors, most commonly adenoid cystic carcinoma, high-grade mucoepidermoid carcinoma, salivary duct carcinoma and tumors sited in the submandibular gland, posterior tongue and pharyngeal tumors. Patients who have had a high-grade tumor treated and survived without locoregional recurrence have the same risk of developing distant metastases as those patients who have locoregional recurrence. Other histological types of salivary tumors are associated with a lower risk of developing distant metastases but a real risk remains lifelong. It is recommended that all patients who have a malignant salivary gland tumor treated, any histology, should be followed up and clinically assessed at least once every 12 months for life.

Mucoepidermoid Cancer of the Tongue Base: Case Report

“…The epidermoid grew in island or sheets. MEC classified in high and low grad the high grad contain epidermoid cells predominantly and looks like squamous cell carcinoma, the low grad MEC contain mucin cell more within cystic architecture and it is similar to metastatic clear renal cell carcinoma and bronchogenic carcinoma [8].…”

Immunohistochemical expression of cytokeratins 7 and 20 in malignant salivary gland tumors

“…13 Distant metastases of malignant salivary gland tumors may pose significant difficulties in their differential diagnosis from primary or other metastatic carcinomas. 17 Knowledge of the CK7/CK20 immunophenotype of these tumors may prove valuable in their definitive diagnosis, especially in the absence of a previous diagnosis of a primary malignant salivary gland tumors. Although our study did not include metastatic malignant salivary gland tumors, it is reasonable to expect that these tumors would retain the CK immunohistochemical profile of the corresponding primary tumors.…”

“…These tumors can metastasize to distant sites and should be included in the differential diagnosis of metastatic tumors of unknown primary. 17 Moreover, diagnostic difficulties arise when carcinomas from remote sites metastasize to salivary glands 18 or when squamous cell carcinomas of mucosal or skin origin metastasize to or invade the salivary glands. 19 Finally, the overlapping histopathologic features of the numerous types of malignant salivary gland tumors often pose difficulties in the accurate classification of these neoplasms, which may exhibit a wide range of biologic behaviors.…”

Primary adenoid cystic carcinoma of the liver: A case report

“…Other uncommon primary sites of ACC include breast, trachea, lacrimal glands, skin, and vulva. [1] Aggressive surgical resection with or without post-operative radiotherapy is the mainstay of treatment of non-metastatic ACC. The incidence of distant metastases of ACC ranges from 35% to 50%, [1] with lungs being the most common site.…”

“…[1] Aggressive surgical resection with or without post-operative radiotherapy is the mainstay of treatment of non-metastatic ACC. The incidence of distant metastases of ACC ranges from 35% to 50%, [1] with lungs being the most common site. However, ACC is also known to metastasize to other organs such as liver, kidney, bones, and brain.…”