Summary
Specimens from five cases of adenoid cystic carcinoma of the external auditory canal were studied by immunohistochemical staining, and findings were compared with those from adjacent non-neoplastic tissues containing ceruminous glands. In the ceruminous gland, cytokeratin showed diffuse positive staining, while myoepithelial cells were stained for smooth muscle actin, desmin, S-100 protein and vimentin. The epithelial markers used were cytokeratin, carcinoembryonic antigen and secretory component and stained at various densities the inner cells of the tubular component and ductlining cells in the cibriform component of tumor tissues. In contrast, the muscular markers, smooth muscle actin and desmin, and the mesenchymal marker, vimentin, were positive in the outer cells of the tubular component and in the cyst-lining cells of the cribriform component. S-100 protein immunoreactivity showed pradoxical results; positive findings occurred in the myoepithelial cells of the ceruminous glands and in the inner cells of the tubular component and duct-lining cells of the cribriform component of the tumor. Present findings demonstrate that adenoid cystic carcinoma of the external auditory canal had dual epithelial and myoepithelial differentiation and can mimic the ceruminous glands of the auditory canal.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Althaus SR, Ross JAT (1970) Cernmen gland neoplasia. Arch Otolaryngol 92:40–42
Arthur K (1976) Radiotherapy in carcinoma of the middle ear and auditory canal. J Laryngol Otol 90:753–762
Azumi N, Battifora H (1987) The cellular composition of adenoid cystic carcinoma. An immunohistochemical study. Cancer 60:1589–1598
Batsakis JG, Hardy GC, Hishiyama RH (1967) Ceruminous gland tumors. Arch Otolaryngol 86: 66–69
Cankar V, Crowley H (1964) Tumors of ceruminous glands. A Clinicopathological study of 7 cases. Cancer 17:67–75
Caselitz J, Schulze I, Seifert G (1986) Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the salivary glands: an immunohistochemical study. J Oral Pathol Med 15:308–318
Chomette G, Auriol M, Tranbaloc P, Vaillant JM (1982) Adenoid cystic carcinoma of minor salivary glands. Analysis of 86 cases. Clinico-pathological, histoenzymological and ultrastructural studies. Virchows Arch [A] 395:289–301
Collins RJ; Yu HC (1989) Pleomorphic adenoma of the external auditory canal. An immunohistochemical and ultrastructural study. Cancer 64:870–875
Conley J, Dingman DL (1974) Adenoid cystic carcinoma in the head and neck (cylindroma). Arch Otolaryngol 100:81–90
Goodwin WJ, Jesse RH (1980) Malignant neoplasms of the external auditory canal and temporal bone. Arch Otolaryngol 106:675–679
Hamper K, Lazar F, Dieltel M, Caselitz J, Berger J, Arps H, Falkmer U, Auer G, Seifert G (1990) Prognostic factors for adenoid cystic carcinoma of the the head and neck: a retrospective evaluation of 96 cases. J Oral Pathol Med 19: 101–107
Hara K, Ito M, Takeuchi J, Iijima S, Endo T, Hidaka H (1983) Distribution of S-100b protein in normal salivary glands and salivary gland tumors. Virchows Arch [A] 401:237–249
Johnstone JM, Lennox B, Watson AJ (1957) Five cases of hidradenoma of the external auditory meatus: so-called ceruminoma. J Pathol Bacteriol 73:421–427
Kahn HJ, Baumal R, Marks A, Dardick I., Nostrand AWP van (1985) Myoepithelial cells in salivary gland tumors. Arch Pathol Lab Med 109:190–195
Morinaga S, Nakajima T, Shimosato Y (1987) Normal and neoplastic myoepithelial cells in salivary glands: an immunohistochemical study. Hum Pathol 18:1218–1226
Nakajima T, Kameya T, Watanabe S, Hirota T, Sato Y, Shimozato Y (1982) An immunoperoxidase study of S-100 protein distribution in normal and neoplastic tissues. Am J Surg Pathol 6:715–727
Nakazato Y, Ishida Y, Takahashi K, Suzuki K (1985) Immunohistochemical distribution of S-100 protein and glial fibrillary acidic protein in normal and neoplastic salivary glands. Virchows Arch [A] 405:299–310
Perzin KH, Gullane P, Conley J (1982) Adenoid cystic carcinoma involving the external auditory canal. A clinicopathologic study of 16 cases. Cancer 50:2873–2883
Pulec JL (1977) Glandular tumors of the external auditory canal. Laryngoscope 876:1601–1612
Saku T, Okabe H, Yagi Y, Sato E, Tsuda N (1984) A comparative study on the immunolocalization of keratin and myosin in salivary gland tumors. Acta Pathol Jpn 34:1031–1040
Smith LC, Lane N, Rankow RM (1965) Cylindroma (adenoid cystic carcinoma). A report of fifty-eight cases. Am J Surg 110 519–526
Szanto PA, Luna MA, Tortoledo ME, White RA (1984) Histologic grading of adenoid cystic carcinoma of the salivary glands. Cancer 54:1062–1069
Welti CV, Pardo V, Millard M, Gerston K (1972) Tumors of ceruminous glands. Cancer 29:1169–1178
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ito, K., Ito, T., Tsukuda, M. et al. An immunohistochemical study of adenoid cystic carcinoma of the external auditory canal. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 250, 240–244 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00171533
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00171533