J Korean Med Sci.  1997 Dec;12(6):499-504. 10.3346/jkms.1997.12.6.499.

Mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the salivary gland--a clinico-pathologic and immunohistochemical study for c-erbB-2 oncoprotein

• Cho KJ
• Kim JY
• Lee SS
• Oh KK

• KMID: 645109
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.1997.12.6.499

Abstract

Twenty-five cases of mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the salivary glands were studied with respect to clinico-pathologic features, prognostic factors, and c-erbB-2 oncoprotein expression. Fourteen cases were located in parotid glands, 2 in submandibular glands and 9 in minor salivary glands. Fourteen patients were confirmed to have local recurrences, 6 patients manifested systemic metastases, and 10 patients died of the disease. They were histologically graded as I in 5, II in 12 and III in 8 cases respectively, and the histologic grade was significantly correlated with disease-free interval and overall survival of the patients. c-erbB-2 overexpression was observed in 9 cases (36%), with a trend to be associated with the higher grade, but was not evaluated as a significant survival-related factor in this series. Larger size and major gland location of the tumors were correlated with more frequent regional lymph node metastases. The present study showed that c-erbB-2 overexpression was not uncommonly present in mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the salivary glands, especially of higher grade, and the histologic grade was the most important and handy prognostic indicator.

MeSH Terms

Adolescence
Adult
Aged
Carcinoma, Mucoepidermoid/pathology*
Carcinoma, Mucoepidermoid/metabolism
Carcinoma, Mucoepidermoid/chemistry
Case Report
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Human
Immunohistochemistry
Male
Middle Age
Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/pathology
Receptor, erbB-2/metabolism
Receptor, erbB-2/analysis
Salivary Gland Neoplasms/pathology*
Salivary Gland Neoplasms/metabolism
Salivary Gland Neoplasms/chemistry