On the occurrence of argyrophil cells in salivary glands

Salivary Glands

The anatomical development and primary functions of the major and minor salivary glands and their associated lesions found in rats are discussed in this chapter.

Age-related changes of the granular intercalated duct cells of male rat submandibular gland

The granular intercalated duct (GID) cells showed a progressive increase in number from two to four months of age (p less than 0.01). Their secretory granules also increased in number. Among all the age groups (2-22 months), the number of the GID cells in submandibular gland was highest of six months; they were then also most conspicuous with many electron-dense secretory granules in the cytoplasm. From 12 to 22 months, they showed regressive changes such as a decrease in cell number and in the number of secretory granules. The significance of these age-related changes of the GID cells is unknown.

Neuroendocrine carcinoma of the parotid gland: a report of two cases with ultrastructural and immunohistochemical studies

Two cases of primary small cell carcinoma of the parotid gland are reported. This rare neoplasm usually presents as a painful or painless mass in the gland. The finding of neurosecretory granules by electron microscopic study, combined with strong immunoreactivity for neuron-specific enolase and chromogranin, confirms the true neuroendocrine origin of the carcinoma. This tumor appears to have a better prognosis than small cell carcinoma of the lung, which it resembles histologically.

Small cell carcinoma of the major salivary glands

Small cell carcinoma is primarily a pulmonary neoplasm that rarely arises in extrapulmonic sites including salivary glands of the head and neck. Twelve cases of small cell carcinoma of salivary gland origin were retrieved from the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology files. Six tumors occurred in the parotid gland and six in the submandibular gland. Tumors were classified into two categories: those with areas of histologically typical small cell carcinoma (7 cases) and those with areas of typical small cell carcinoma with foci of ductal differentiation (5 cases). Follow-up information was available in all 12 cases. Electron microscopy was done on eight tumors; only one demonstrated round electron dense intracytoplasmic neurosecretory granules. These observations further support evidence in the literature suggesting most of the small cell carcinomas of salivary gland origin are not true neuroendocrine ("oat cell") carcinomas, but actually are small cell ductal carcinomas. These tumors appear to have a better prognosis than small cell carcinoma of the lung or nonsalivary gland sites in the head and neck region, with an estimated 2- and 5-year survival of 70 and 46%, respectively.

Small cell carcinomas of the parotid gland. A clinicopathologic study of three cases

Clinical, histological and ultrastructural features of three small cell carcinomas arising in the parotid gland are presented. The light microscopic appearance of two of the neoplasms suggested neuroendocrine cell derivation, confirmed by electron microscopy in both instances. The fine structure of the third neoplasm suggested intercalated duct cell differentiation. The possibility that both types of neoplasm may arise from the same primitive precursor cell is considered. The findings from this study confirm the occurrence of two different types of small cell carcinoma of salivary gland origin. A distinction between duct cell and neuroendocrine subtypes may be impossible by conventional light microscopic evaluation.