Basal cell adenocarcinoma of the palate with squamous metaplasia

Basal cell adenocarcinoma is a rare salivary gland tumour, especially in minor glands. The clinical, histological, and immunohistochemical features of a case involving the palate are described. Formalin fixed, paraffin embedded sections of the tumour were examined in haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) sections and also using immunostaining for cytokeratins 7, 8, 13, 14, 18, 19, vimentin, muscle specific actin (HHF35), and laminin. H&E sections showed that the tumour was composed mainly of basaloid cells and a striking feature was the presence of squamous metaplasia. Neural invasion was also conspicuous. Immunohistochemical reactions indicated that cytokeratin 14 was expressed by all tumour cells and vimentin by all cells except those in the areas of squamous metaplasia. The remaining cytokeratins and actin were present in some of the tumour cells, while laminin showed discreet positivity around cell arrangements. The foci of squamous metaplasia and the immunohistochemical findings are helpful in distinguishing basal cell adenocarcinoma from other salivary gland tumours which show basaloid cells.