Cytokeratin expression in central mucoepidermoid carcinoma and glandular odontogenic cyst

• Published in: Oral oncology Vol. 40; no. 5; pp. 545 - 551
• Main Authors: Pires, Fábio Ramôa, Chen, Sow-Yeh, da Cruz Perez, Danyel Elias, de Almeida, Oslei Paes, Kowalski, Luiz Paulo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.05.2004; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Carcinoma, Mucoepidermoid - chemistry; Carcinoma, Mucoepidermoid - pathology; Central; Cytokeratins; Female; Glandular odontogenic cyst; Humans; Immunohistochemistry - methods; Intraosseous; Jaw Diseases - metabolism; Jaw Diseases - pathology; Keratins - analysis; Male; Mandibular Diseases - metabolism; Mandibular Diseases - pathology; Maxillary Diseases - metabolism; Maxillary Diseases - pathology; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Mucoepidermoid carcinoma; Odontogenic Cysts - chemistry; Odontogenic Cysts - pathology; Otorhinolaryngology. Stomatology; Salivary Gland Neoplasms - chemistry; Salivary Gland Neoplasms - pathology; Tumors; Central; Intraosseous; Cytokeratins; Mucoepidermoid carcinoma; Glandular odontogenic cyst; Human; Cytokeratin; Carcinoma; Cancerology; Stomatology; Odontogenic cyst; Malignant tumor
• ISSN: 1368-8375; 1879-0593
• DOI: 10.1016/j.oraloncology.2003.11.007

Central mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) is an entity whose origin is still controversial. Glandular odontogenic cyst (GOC) is a recently described lesion whose relationship to low-grade central MEC has been reported in the literature. Our aim was to assess the cytokeratin (CK) profile of central MEC and GOC, and compare the results with CK expression in salivary gland MEC and odontogenic cysts and tumors. Eighty-five cases, including 6 central MECs, 23 salivary gland MECs, 10 GOCs, 34 odontogenic cysts and 12 ameloblastomas, were studied through immunohistochemistry using eleven monoclonal anti-CK antibodies. All central MECs expressed CKs 5, 7, 8, 14, and 18 and all GOCs expressed CKs 5, 7, 8, 13, 14, and 19. Comparing CK expression from GOC and central MEC we found differences in CKs 18 (30% vs 100%) and 19 (100% vs 50%). Central MEC and GOC are probably distinct entities with CK profiles similar to lesions of glandular and odontogenic origins, respectively, and expression of CKs 18 and 19 could be useful in their differential diagnosis.