Clear cell sarcoma or gastrointestinal neuroectodermal tumor (GNET) of the tongue? Case report and review of the literature of an extremely rare tumor localization

• Published in: Annales de pathologie Vol. 39; no. 2; p. 167
• Main Authors: Breton, Sarah, Dubois, Matthieu, Geay, Jean-François, Gillebert, Quentin, Tordjman, Mickaël, Guinebretière, Jean-Marc, Denoux, Yves
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: French
• Published: France 01.04.2019
• Subjects: Adult; Diagnosis, Differential; Female; Gastrointestinal Neoplasms - pathology; Humans; Neuroectodermal Tumors - pathology; Sarcoma, Clear Cell - pathology; Tongue Neoplasms - pathology; Clear cell sarcoma; Sarcome à cellules claire; Gastrointestinal neuroectodermal tumour; Tongue; Langue; Tumeur neuroectodermique gastro-intestinale
• DOI: 10.1016/j.annpat.2018.10.004
• ISSN: 0242-6498

Clear cells sarcomas (CCS) are exceptionally rare in the tongue, with, to our knowledge, only three previous reports in anglo-saxon literature. Through our case, we will discuss the differential diagnosis of clear cells tumors of the tongue and bring this tumour closer to the newly described entity of the gastrointestinal tract named "clear cells sarcoma-like gastrointestinal (SCCLGI)", recently renamed "gastrointestinal neuroectodermal tumour (GNET)". SCCLGI/GNET share morphological and molecular characteristics with SCC but had until then been observed only in the digestive tract. Our case could be a lingual localization of a SCCLGI/GNET. SCC and SCCLGI/GNET characteristic molecular profil involves EWSR1-ATF1 [t(12; 22) (q13; q12)] and EWSR1-CREB1 [t(2; 22) (q34; q12)] fusion genes, but it is not specific of these tumours.