Hyalinizing clear cell carcinoma of salivary glands: A retrospective study focused on uncommon morphology, immunohistochemistry, and detection of gene fusion using fluorescence in situ hybridization

Abstract

Aims: To investigate histological, immunohistochemical, and molecular features, especially uncommon morphology of hyalinizing clear cell carcinoma (HCCC) to expand the morphological spectrum of HCCC.

Methods and results: We examined 5 cases of HCCC by histological, immunohistochemical, and molecular analysis. Generally, 5 HCCC cases shared similar characteristics, exhibiting clear to slightly eosinophilic cells arranged in cords, nests, islands, or trabeculae with a hyalinized stroma, while myxoid stroma, perineural invasion, and polygonal cells with high-grade nuclei were observed in 3 cases. Immunohistochemically, 5 cases were entirely immunoreactive for CKpan, whereas 80% HCCC cases were positive for P63, and CK14. None expressed immunoreactivity for S-100, Calponin, or GFAP. The positive rate of Ki-67 staining was about 5% in the classic area of case 3, but 40% in the high-grade area. As for the result of FISH findings, EWSR1 gene break was detected in all 5 HCCC cases.

Conclusions: Our study has expanded the morphological spectrum of HCCC, and proposed the diagnosis of HCCC should be confirmed by fully analyzing histological, immunohistochemical, and molecular features practically.

Keywords: EWSR1; FISH; Hyalinizing clear cell carcinoma; Immunohistochemistry; Morphology; Salivary glands.