ONCOCYTIC CARCINOMA OF THE SUBMANDIBULAR-GLAND - A CASE-REPORT AND LITERATURE-REVIEW

Oncocytes are characterized by a remarkable number of mitochondria as demonstrated by electron microscopy. Oncocytomas are very rare tumors that are usually benign and typically occur in the parotid gland. Onco cytic carcinomas are exceedingly rare in the salivary glands. We descr ibe a 69-year-old Japanese man with an oncocytic carcinoma of the subm andibular gland. We reviewed 38 articles describing oncocytic carcinom a of the head and neck that included clinicopathologic features. Oncoc ytic carcinomas appear to arise from benign oncocytomas, or may also a rise de novo. In oncocytic carcinoma of the head and neck, the presenc e of distant, rather than local lymph node, metastasis is the most imp ortant prognostic indicator.