Radiological features of head and neck mammary analogue secretory carcinoma: 11 new cases with a systematic review of 29 cases reported in 28 publications

Abstract

Purpose: This retrospective study aimed to investigate the radiological features of head and neck mammary analogue secretory carcinoma (MASC) and systematically review previous publications and 11 new cases.

Methods: We included patients with pathologically proven MASCs with preoperative CT or MRI images, including 11 patients from our hospital and 29 patients from 28 publications extracted after screening 645 abstracts. Two board-certified radiologists reviewed and evaluated all radiological images. The frequency of metastasis during the follow-up period in tumors with well- and ill-defined margins was compared using a Fisher's exact test.

Results: The median age at diagnosis was 52.5 years (range, 7-78 years; 20 males). Of the 40 patients, those in their 50 s were the most common (10/40, 25.0%), and the main tumor site was the parotid gland (27/40, 42.5%). Characteristic radiological features included high intensity on T1WI in the cystic components and tumors frequently showed "papillary and cystic," which showed a projection into the cystic components, or "non-papillary and cystic" morphology, which did not show projection of the solid components. Tumor metastasis was found in 10/35 patients (28.6%) during the follow-up period, with a significant difference in frequency between the tumors with well- and ill-defined margin (well-defined (4/26) vs. ill-defined (6/9); P = 0.0074).

Conclusion: MASCs are newly recognized malignant tumors. Characteristic T1WI high intensity on MRI and predominant cystic morphology may reflect its unique histological profile. Ill-defined tumor margin status was related to frequent metastasis. Awareness of these characteristic radiological features can assist radiologists in better detection of this novel entity.

Keywords: Head and neck; Magnetic resonance imaging; Mammary analogue secretory carcinoma; Salivary gland; Systematic review.