IADR Abstract Archives

Differences between Adenosquamous Carcinoma and Adenoid Squamous Cell Caricinoma

Objectives: Adenosquamous carcinoma (ASC) and adenoid squamous cell carcinoma (ASCC) are very rare malignant neoplasms which share similar histological features. Their histopathologic mimicry confuses us in identifying the cellular origin and deters from prompt differential diagnosis. The present study reports two ASCs and one ASCC in comparison with one another, in the effort to investigate the clues for differentiating by histological examination and immunohistochemical staining.

Methods: Two ASCs and 1 ASC went through microscopic examination and a panel of immunohistochemical stain including; cytokeratin-pan, high-molecular-weight cytokeratin (HMWCK), cytokeratin7 (CK7) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA).

Results: Both ASC and ASCC seemed to originate from the surface epithelium and exhibited tubular structures in the tumor nests. In microscopic examination, the tubular structures of ASCs were lined by cuboidal, basaloid, or small round cells which are suggested to be reminiscent of the glandular differentiation of adenocarcinoma. In contrast, the gland-like structures of ASCC seemed to be formed by acantholysis and not surrounded by true ductal lining epithelium. On immunohistochemical studies, the glandular component of ASC showed positivity to CK7, CEA and HMWCK, while the pseudoglandular structures of ASCC exhibited focal positivity to HMWCK but negativity to CK7.

Conclusion: The differences in histological features of ASC and ASCC and immunohistochemical reactivity to CK7 and HMWCK lead towards differentiating ASC and ASCC.


IADR/AADR/CADR General Session
2009 IADR/AADR/CADR General Session (Miami, Florida)
Miami, Florida
2009
3551
Oral Medicine & Pathology
  • Cho, Young-ah  ( Department of Oral Pathology, Seoul National University, Seoul, N/A, South Korea )
  • Shin, Wui-jung  ( Department of Oral Pathology, Seoul National University, Seoul, N/A, South Korea )
  • Hong, Seong-doo  ( Department of Oral Pathology, Seoul National University, Seoul, N/A, South Korea )
  • Lee, Jae-il  ( Seoul National University, Seoul, N/A, South Korea )
  • Hong, Sam-pyo  ( Department of Oral Pathology, Seoul National University, Seoul, N/A, South Korea )
    • Poster Session
    Odontogenic Cell Biology
    04/04/2009