Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Schwannoma-Like Pleomorphic Adenoma: A Case Report with Review of the Literature

  • Case Report
  • Published:
Head and Neck Pathology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Pleomorphic adenoma is a common benign salivary gland tumor, which represents about 66 % of benign neoplasms of the salivary glands. Although it can occur in any salivary gland, it is most frequently found in the parotid. Pleomorphic adenomas are renowned for their cytomorphological and architectural heterogeneity that are characterized by intermixed epithelial and mesenchymal-like components. We report a rare case of pleomorphic adenoma of the parotid gland with prevalent schwannoma-like features mimicking a benign schwannoma. Microscopically the tumor showed a prevalence (about 95 %) of schwannoma-like areas with focal (about 5 %) epithelial component with tubular organization. The tumor showed positive immunoexpression for cytokeratin, S-100 protein, and focal expression of p63, CD10 and smooth muscle actin. To the best of our knowledge only six cases of schwannoma-like pleomorphic adenoma have been reported in the literature. The differential diagnosis between this entity and neurogenic and myogenic tumors is discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

References

  1. Ellis GL, Auclair P. AFIP atlas of tumor pathology: tumors of the salivary gland. Series 4. Silver Spring, MD: ARP Press; 2008.

  2. Coli A, Bigotti G, Bartolazzi A. Malignant oncocytoma of major salivary glands. Report of a post-irradiation case. J Exp Clin Cancer Res. 1998;17:65–70.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Takeda Y, Shimono M. Pleomorphic adenoma with nuclear palisading arrangement of modified myoepithelial cells: histopathologic and immunohistochemical study. Bull Tokyo Dent Coll. 1999;40:27–34.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Kajor M, Gierek T, Markowski J, Pajak J. Schwannoma-like mixed tumor of the parotid gland: a case report. Acta Cytol. 2006;50:529–30.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Tille JC, Reychler H, Hamoir M, Schmitz S, Weynand B. Schwannoma-like pleomorphic adenoma of the parotid. Rare Tumor. 2011;3:e40.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Merino MJ, LiVolsi VA. Pleomorphic adenomas of the parotid gland resembling mesenchymal tumors. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol. 1977;44:405–10.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Kapila K, Mathur S, Verma K. Schwannomas: a pitfall in the diagnosis of pleomorphic adenomas on fine-needle aspiration cytology. Diagn Cytopathol. 2002;27:53–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Kim YC, Park HJ, Cinn YW, Vandersteen DP. Benign glandular schwannoma. Br J Dermatol. 2001;145:834–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology, Ospedale Sant’Andrea, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy

    Mariangela Lombardi, Fabio Socciarelli & Armando Bartolazzi

  2. Department of Maxillofacial Surgery, Ospedale Sant’Andrea, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy

    Giuseppina Fini & Alessandra Leonardi

Authors
  1. Mariangela Lombardi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Fabio Socciarelli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Giuseppina Fini
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Alessandra Leonardi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Armando Bartolazzi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Fabio Socciarelli.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Lombardi, M., Socciarelli, F., Fini, G. et al. Schwannoma-Like Pleomorphic Adenoma: A Case Report with Review of the Literature. Head and Neck Pathol 8, 178–181 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12105-013-0473-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12105-013-0473-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation