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Home » Topics A–Z » Adenoid cystic carcinoma pathology
Author: A/Prof Patrick Emanuel, Dermatopathologist, Auckland, New Zealand, 2014.
Adenoid cystic carcinoma typically arises within salivary glands. Primary cutaneous adenoid cystic carcinomaand adenoid cystic carcinoma of the breast are rare but well recognized.
In primary cutaneous adenoid cystic carcinoma, the tumour involves the dermis and may invade the subcutis (figure 1). The tumour is composed of basaloid cells arranged in a ductal or cribriform pattern. Characteristically there are eosinophilic hyaline membranes lining the pseudolumina within the tumour (figure 2, arrows).
Adenoid cystic carcinoma is typically a morphologic diagnosis. The basement membrane material may be highlighted with PAS stain.
Cylindroma – These tumours exhibit a typical “jigsaw puzzle” architecture rather than the irregular cribriform and tubular architecture of adenoid cystic carcinoma.
Basaloid squamous cell carcinoma – Can mimic adenoid cystic carcinoma. p63 immunohistochemistry can be helpful if this is a diagnostic consideration. Diffuse p63 positivity is more commonly seen with SCC.
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