Primary minor salivary gland salivary duct carcinoma at palate: A radiological investigation and review of the literature

Abstract

Salivary duct carcinoma (SDC) is regarded as high-grade malignancy with accompanied by bone destruction originating in the ductal epithelium of salivary gland. SDC arising in the minor salivary gland of the oral cavity is very rare. We present here a single case of SDC arising from the minor salivary gland of a 82-year-old man. His first symptom was swelling on the left side of the palate. There is no bone resorption by the results of imaging studies, so benign tumor located in minor salivary gland was suspected. The tumor was dissected surgically and the intraductal component is microscopically described as a cribriform, papillary, solid growth pattern, with central necrosis. Immunohistochemical staining of intraductal component cells was positive for human epidermal growth factor receptor type2 (Her2), gross cystic disease fluid protein-15 (GCDFP-15) and androgen receptor (AR). As a result, the tumor was diagnosed as a SDC.