Salivary duct carcinoma: an unusual case of long-term evolution

Salivary duct carcinoma is a highly malignant adenocarcinoma of salivary origin. Its pathologic features are distinct from the other salivary gland tumors and bear a remarkable histologic resemblance to ductal breast carcinoma. The clinical course is rapid and the prognosis is dismal. Aggressive therapy is warranted, including primary tumor resection, cervical neck dissection, and radiotherapy. We present a case of salivary duct carcinoma of parotid origin with a very long-term evolution in clear contrast to its supposed aggressiveness. Tumor cells expressed low- and high-molecular-weight cytokeratins, epithelial membrane antigen, carcinoembryonic antigen, and c-erbB-2 but not estrogen and progesterone receptors, actin, and S-100.