ACINIC CELL-CARCINOMA PRESENTING AS AN UPPER LIP MASS

BACKGROUND. Acinic cell carcinoma (ACC) is a rare tumor generally invo lving the parotid gland and infrequently the minor salivary glands. OB JECTIVE. Clinical and histopathological characteristics of a case of A CC of the minor salivary glands, and brief review of the literature. M ETHODS. Routine stains with HBE, PAS, iron, and mucicarmine; immunohis tochemistry with cytokeratin, CEA, S-100, and leu-M1. RESULTS. The ACC was removed by wide local excision. Histopathology revealed papillary cystic, solid, and ductal architectural features. The mucinous materi al within the lumina of the cystic and ductal structures was PAS and m ucicarmine positive, and diastase resistant. All tested immunohistoche mical reagents reacted with the epithelial cells. There were no mitose s, necrosis, cellular pleomorphism, or infiltration. CONCLUSIONS. ACC is a rare tumor of salivary glands characterized by an indolent clinic al course with the potential for both local recurrence and metastatic spread when tracked for decades. Published mortality rates vary from 6 to 50%. Histopathologic features do not reliably predict biologic beh avior. (C) 1998 by the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, Inc.