Secretory Carcinoma

Abstract

Secretory carcinoma, first described as mammary analogue secretory carcinoma (MASC), is a recently described, distinctive malignant salivary gland tumor that is quite similar to secretory breast carcinoma, defined by the t(l2;15)(p13;q25) translocation resulting in an ETV6-NTRK3 fusion product. The vast majority of these tumors used to be included in the acinic cell carcinoma category. The tumor is considered uncommon, but as it is recently recognized, it may be under-reported or underrecognized at present. There is a slight male-to-female predominance (1.3:1), with a wide age range at presentation (7 to 88 years; mean 47 years). The majority (65%) develop in the parotid gland, with the submandibular gland and buccal mucosa less frequently affected. Patients present with a slowly growing, painless mass. Metastatic disease to neck lymph nodes may be seen in as many as 30% of patients at presentation. Figure 2. A high-power view demonstrates the open to vesicular nuclearchromatinwith verysmall nucleoli. There is "colloid-like" material in the lumen, with scalloping artifacts.