Small cell undifferentiated carcinoma of the submandibular gland: Immunohistochemical evidence of myoepithelial, basal and luminal cell features

A primary small cell undifferentiated carcinoma of the submandibular gland is reported, Histological studies revealed that the major part of this tumo r was composed of cells slightly larger (10-14 mu m) than lymphocytes, Thes e tumor cells showed myoepithelial-cell differentiation, which was confirme d by the immunohistochemical and ultrastructural findings. Furthermore, som e of them showed luminal-cell and basal-cell differentiation immunohistoche mically. However, there was no evidence of neuroendocrine differentiation,T hese findings demonstrated that the tumor had the features of all the saliv ary ductal components (myoepithelial I basal, and luminal cells) and suppor ted that the tumor might arise from the salivary duct. Furthermore, it supp orts the hypothesis of multipotential stem cells as the origin for small ce ll undifferentiated carcinomas in salivary glands.