Sinonasal acinic cell carcinoma: a clinicopathologic study of four cases

Sinonasal Adenocarcinomas: An Update

Among sinonasal malignancies, adenocarcinomas account for the second most common entity after squamous cell carcinoma. They span a wide spectrum of neoplasms with heterogeneous features including intestinal-type adenocarcinoma (ITAC), non-intestinal-type adenocarcinomas (non-ITACs), and salivary-type adenocarcinomas. ITAC basically mirrors the histopathological aspects of gastrointestinal counterparts, showing variable tubulo-papillary, colonic, and mixed patterns with mucin production in 20% to 25% of cases. By contrast, non-ITACs do not show any differentiation toward intestinal or salivary phenotype, and they mainly represent a diagnosis of exclusion lacking a proper histopathological and molecular definition.

Nasal Acinic Cell Carcinoma Misdiagnosed as Hemangioma of the Nasal Septum

Acinic cell carcinoma (AciCC) is a low-grade, slow-growing malignant tumor that commonly originates from the parotid gland and occasionally from the minor gland of the oral cavity, but rarely from the nasal cavity. Here, we present a 57-year-old woman who presented with an 8-month history of obstruction and epistaxis of the right nasal cavity. Rhinoscopy revealed a reddish-gray fleshy mass with tiny blood vessels on the surface blocking the right postnaris. Computed tomography showed a 3 × 2 cm2 well-demarcated tumor filling the right nasal common meatus with a clear boundary. There were no signs of local bone erosion in the bony window. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed abnormal signals in the nasal meatus with iso-intensity in the T1W1 sequence with homogeneous enhancement. We diagnosed it as a right nasal hemangioma, and the patient underwent endoscopic resection. However, histopathological evaluation of the surgical specimen confirmed a primary AciCC. The patient refused further radical surgery and instead underwent adjuvant radiotherapy. There was no clinical evidence of recurrence for 2 years, and the patient has returned for follow-up yearly. We discuss the clinical nature of sinonasal AciCC and the treatment of this rare condition.

Sinonasal Acinic Cell Carcinoma: A Review of the National Cancer Database

BACKGROUND

Acinic cell carcinoma (ACC) is a salivary gland malignancy that rarely can involve the sinonasal cavity. There are limited outcomes data available to guide management.

OBJECTIVE

We sought to use the National Cancer Database (NCDB) to characterize treatment outcomes in sinonasal ACC.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of the NCDB from 2004 to 2016 for patients with ACC involving the sinonasal cavity was conducted. Demographic, treatment, and survival information were obtained. Unadjusted Kaplan-Meier estimates, log-rank tests, and a multivariable Cox proportional hazard model were used to assess overall survival (OS).

RESULTS

A total of 28 patients were included in the analysis with an average age of 58.6 ± 15.5 years. Half the patients (n = 14, 50%) were male, mostly white (n = 23, 82.1%), and with private insurance (n = 16, 57.1%). The nasal cavity was the most common subsite (n = 18, 64.3%), followed by the maxillary sinus (n = 5, 17.9%). Most patient received surgery alone (n = 17, 60.7%), with the remaining patients undergoing surgery followed by radiation (n = 8, 28.6%), radiation alone (n = 1, 3.6%), and no treatment (n = 2, 7.1%). The 1-, 5-, and 10-year survival in this cohort was 100% (95% CI: 100%-100%), 84.3% (95% CI: 71.2%-99.7%), and 72.2% (95% CI: 55%-94.8%), respectively. On multivariate analysis, older age was associated with worse OS (hazard ratio (HR): 1.27; 95% CI: 1.11-1.46, P < .001). Disease of the sphenoid sinus correlated with worse survival (HR: 198, 95% CI: 10.4-3,739, P < .001) and large tumor size was associated with worse OS on log-rank test, but not on multivariate analysis.

CONCLUSION

Sinonasal ACC is a rare entity with relatively good long-term outcomes. Older age and primary disease of the sphenoid sinus are associated with worse outcomes. Most patients are treated with surgical resection. Future research is needed to assess the optimal timing and indications for radiation therapy.

Analysis of clinicopathologic features and expression of NR4A3 in sinonasal acinic cell carcinoma

Acinic cell carcinoma (AiCC) in the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses has rarely been reported in literature. A recent study demonstrated that recurrent genomic rearrangement [t(4;9) (q13;q31)] is a driver event in AiCC of the salivary glands that could promote the upregulation of transcription factor nuclear receptor subfamily 4 group A member 3 (NR4A3). In the current study, we evaluated the clinicopathological characteristics and expression of NR4A3 in four new cases of sinonasal AiCC. All four patients were men (range, 27-70 years). The tumor involved only the nasal cavity in two patients, while the other two patients showed involvement of both the nasal cavity and ethmoid sinus. Histologically, the tumor displayed a predominantly solid growth pattern and was composed of hematoxyphilic serous-like cells and scattered intercalated duct-like cells. Immunohistochemically, all cases expressed DOG-1. However, staining for mammaglobin, S-100, CA9, and P63 was absent in all patients. All four cases showed positive nuclear staining for NR4A3. In contrast, none of the other 39 sinonasal tumors, including secretory carcinomas, pleomorphic adenomas, mucoepidermoid carcinomas, adenoid cystic carcinomas, renal cell-like adenocarcinomas, intestinal-type adenocarcinomas, non-intestinal-type adenocarcinomas, extraskeletal myxoid chondrosarcoma, and carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenomas, presented with any positive NR4A3 nuclear staining. Additionally, NR4A3 rearrangements were observed in three cases with sinonasal AiCC by fluorescence in situ hybridization, and the expression level of NR4A3 mRNA was significantly increased in sinonasal AiCC compared with that in normal parotid tissue. Our study demonstrated that sinonasal AiCCs are characterized by an indolent nature and histopathological similarity to parotid AiCCs. Moreover, NR4A3 is a reliable biomarker for distinguishing sinonasal AiCCs from other sinonasal carcinomas.

Acinic Cell Carcinoma of the Nasal Lateral Wall

Primary acinic cell carcinoma arising in the nose is exceptionally rare. In this report, we present a unique case of an acinic cell carcinoma of the nasal lateral wall, and it is only the second such case to be reported. We also engage in a systematic review of all 18 cases of acinic cell carcinoma of the nose reported in the literature in English so far.

Rare Diseases of the Nose, the Paranasal Sinuses, and the Anterior Skull Base

Due to their low incidence and thus resulting limited diagnostic criteria as well as therapeutic options, rare diseases of the nose, the paranasal sinuses, and the anterior skull base are a significant challenge. The value as of which a disease has to be considered as rare amounts to a maximum of 5 patients per 10 000 people. Within these diseases, however, there are extreme differences. Some rare or orphan diseases like for example the inverted papilloma belong to regularly diagnosed and treated diseases of larger departments of oto-rhino-laryngology whereas other rare diseases and malformations have only been described in less than 100 case reports worldwide. This fact emphasizes the necessity of bundling the available experience of diagnostics and therapy. The present article gives an overview about rare diseases of the nose, the paranasal sinuses, and the anterior skull base from the field of diseases/syndromes of the olfactory system, malformations of the nose and paranasal sinuses, ventilation and functional disorders as well as benign and malignant tumors. The classification and data on diagnostic and therapeutic options were established based on the current literature.

Nasal Cavity and Paranasal Sinuses

The nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses occupy the top of the upper respiratory tract and form pneumatic spaces connected with the atmosphere. They are located immediately beneath the base of the cranium, where crucial vital structures are harbored. From this region, very much exposed to airborne agents, arise some of the more complex and rare benign and malignant lesions seen in humans, whose difficulties in interpretation make this remarkable territory one of the most challenging in the practice of surgical pathology.

Contents of this chapter cover inflammations and infections, polyps and pseudotumors, fungal and midfacial destructive granulomatous lesions, as well as benign, borderline, and malignant neoplasms. Among the neoplasms, emphasis is made on those entities characteristic or even unique for the sinonasal region, such as Schneiderian papillomas, glomangiopericytoma, intestinal- and non-intestinal-type adenocarcinomas, olfactory neuroblastoma, nasal-type NK-/T-cell lymphoma, and teratocarcinosarcoma. Moreover, recently recognized entities involving this territory, i.e., HPV-related non-keratinizing carcinoma, NUT carcinoma, and SMARCB1-deficient basaloid carcinoma, are also discussed in the light of their specific molecular findings. Furthermore, the text is accompanied by numerous classical and recent references, several tables, and 100 illustrations.

Salivary acinic cell carcinoma: reappraisal and update

Epidemiologic and clinicopathologic features, therapeutic strategies, and prognosis for acinic cell carcinoma of the major and minor salivary glands are critically reviewed. We explore histopathologic, histochemical, electron microscopic and immunohistochemical aspects and discuss histologic grading, histogenesis, animal models, and genetic events. In the context of possible diagnostic difficulties, the relationship to mammary analog secretory carcinoma is probed and a classification is suggested. Areas of controversy or uncertainty, which may benefit from further investigations, are also highlighted.

Factors influencing survival in acinic cell carcinoma: a retrospective survival analysis of 2061 patients

BACKGROUND

Acinic cell carcinoma is an uncommon salivary neoplasm with clinical and histologic features known to influence prognosis. The purpose of this study was to further describe variables influencing survival in a large cohort of patients with acinic cell carcinoma.

METHODS

Using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) registry, we obtained demographic, clinicopathologic, and treatment data pertaining to patients diagnosed with acinic cell carcinoma. Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses were performed to compare survival with various clinical and pathological parameters.

RESULTS

We identified 2061 patients with acinic cell carcinoma from 1973 to 2009. Sex, staging, grade, subsite, and treatment were significant predictors of disease-specific survival (DSS). Patients who received surgery alone had the highest 20-year DSS (92.4%), followed by those treated with surgery and radiation (71.9%) or radiation alone (62.3%).

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that histologic grade is a stronger predictor of survival than TNM classification, survival after surgical resection alone is excellent, and adjuvant radiation may be of limited benefit

Case-control analysis of survival outcomes in sinonasal acinic cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Acinic cell carcinoma (AciCC) is an uncommon malignant-epithelial salivary gland cancer. In very rare cases, this tumor may arise from sinonasal subsites, with only 19 cases described in the English-language literature.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective analysis of 18 cases of AciCC, obtained from searching the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database between 1973 and 2009.

RESULTS

Patient demographics, including age, gender, and race, were similar to AciCC cases found in more common locations. However, all patients had low-grade tumors without regional or distant metastases. Comparing these patients to a stage, grade, and treatment-matched cohort of parotid AciCC, we found a lower 10-year overall survival (52.3%) with no significant difference in disease-specific survival (88.9%). Our meta-analysis of survival from cases in the literature estimated 10-year recurrence-free survival at 92.9%.

CONCLUSION

To our knowledge, this is the largest cohort of patients with AciCC reported in the English-language literature. Our results suggest that patients with sinonasal AciCC have excellent disease-specific survival, comparable to matched patients with AciCC in more common salivary gland subsites.

Sinonasal carcinomas: epidemiology, pathology, and management

Sinonasal carcinomas are uncommon neoplasms accounting for approximately 3% to 5% of all upper respiratory tract malignancies. Sinonasal malignancies in most cases do not cause early symptoms and present in an advanced stage of disease. Exact staging necessitates a clinical and endoscopic examination with biopsy and imaging. Tumor resection using an open or endoscopic approach is usually considered the first treatment option. In general, sinonasal carcinomas are radiosensitive, so adjuvant or neoadjuvant radiation treatment may be indicated in advanced disease. Multidisciplinary surgical and medical oncologic approaches, including ablation and reconstruction, have enhanced the survival outcome over the past few decades.

Common Malignant Salivary Gland Epithelial Tumors

Malignant salivary gland epithelial tumors are histologically diverse with at least 24 recognized distinct entities. In general, malignant tumors account for 15% to 30% of parotid tumors, 40% to 45% of submandibular tumors, 70% to 90% of sublingual tumors, and 50% of minor salivary tumors. Common malignancies include mucoepidermoid carcinoma, adenoid cystic carcinoma, acinic cell carcinoma, salivary duct carcinoma, carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma, polymorphous lowgrade adenocarcinoma, and myoepithelial carcinoma. Each tumor type has its own unique histologic variants and prognostic pathologic features, and only mucoepidermoid carcinomas have a formalized grading system. The molecular pathogenesis of certain tumors, such as mucoepidermoid carcinoma and adenoid cystic carcinoma, has recently begun to be elucidated.

[Acinic cell carcinoma of the nasal septum]

INTRODUCTION

Nasal cavity acinic carcinoma are exceptional and often of turbinal origin. We report a case of acinic carcinoma of septal origin and discuss this histological type rare in this site.

OBSERVATION

A 47-year-old women, with no pathologic history, consulted for right nasal obstruction and hyposmia having evolved for a year. The clinical examination revealed a right nasal cavity lesion adhesive to the septum. Tomodensitometry showed a right nasal cavity and ethmoid opacity without bone destruction. The surgical treatment was endonasal tumor resection. The histological examination revealed a nasal fossa acinic carcinoma completely resected. A postoperative radiotherapy was initiated. The evolution was uneventful without recurrence after 4 years of follow-up.

DISCUSSION

Acinic carcinoma is rarely located in the nasal cavity. Its septal origin is exceptional. It is usually located at the salivary gland level. Curative treatment is surgery associated or not to radiotherapy. The prognosis is related to tumor extension and quality of resection.

[Adenocarcinomas of nasal cavities and paranasal sinuses: Diagnostic pitfalls in sinonasal glandular lesions]

Among primitive adenocarcinoma of nasal cavity and paranasal sinus, the 2005 WHO classification distinguishes two main categories: intestinal type adenocarcinoma (ITAC) and low-grade non-intestinal adenocarcinoma, entities with different clinical and epidemiological characteristics. Low-grade adenocarcinoma shows a respiratory type phenotype (CK20-/CK7+/CDX2-/villin-) and ITACs, an intestinal type profile (CK20+/CK7-/CDX2+/villin+). Because of histological, ultrastructural and phenotypical similarities between ITAC and colorectal adenocarcinomas, several studies have discussed a possible common pathway in carcinogenesis. But the review of literature shows conflicting results, suggesting different pathways of pathogenesis. Differential diagnoses of sinonasal intestinal-type adenocarcinoma are mainly respiratory epithelial adenomatoid hamartomas, inverted schneiderian papillomas, salivary glands-type carcinoma and more rarely metastasis of adenocarcinoma.

Nasal acinic cell carcinoma in a cat

This case report describes the clinical, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-related, and pathologic features of a nasal acinic cell carcinoma in a cat. A 16-year-old, castrated male, oriental shorthaired cat, weighing 3.8 kg, was presented with history of sneezing, coughing, and nasal discharge persisting several months. Evaluation by MRI revealed an heterogeneous, space-occupying lesion that filled the left nasal cavity and was diagnosed by histopathologic examination as an acinic cell carcinoma arising from a minor salivary gland of the nasal cavity. Acinic cell carcinoma is a rare tumor in veterinary medicine. The tumor is composed mainly of cells resembling serous cells of salivary glands and originates from major or minor salivary glands. Clinicians and pathologists should be aware of the occurrence of acinic cell carcinoma in the sinonasal tract and include the tumor in the differential diagnosis of feline nasal diseases.