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Review
. 2024 Jul 4;25(13):7350.
doi: 10.3390/ijms25137350.

Parotid Gland Tumors: Molecular Diagnostic Approaches

Daniela Vrinceanu  1 , Mihai Dumitru  1 , Miruna Bratiloveanu  2 , Andreea Marinescu  3 , Crenguta Serboiu  4 , Felicia Manole  5 , Dragos Octavian Palade  6 , Adrian Costache  2 , Mariana Costache  2 , Oana Patrascu  2
Affiliations
Review

Parotid Gland Tumors: Molecular Diagnostic Approaches

Daniela Vrinceanu et al. Int J Mol Sci. .

Abstract

Parotid gland pathology represents a web of differential diagnoses. There are many complex cases that require extensive diagnostic tests for a complete and correct final pathology diagnosis. Currently the official classification of parotid gland tumors extends over more than 40 subtypes. We performed a query of the PubMed database regarding the use of molecular biology tests in performing a better characterization of the tumors in specific cases. By using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) or next-generation sequencing, the team managing complex cases can offer a personalized therapeutic solution. We review the molecular differential diagnosis according to published articles in the last 5 years for many types of parotid gland tumors ranging from benign to borderline malign tumors to malign aggressive tumors. Mucoepidermoid carcinoma is a distinct subtype of parotid malignancy that was the subject of a consistent number of articles. However, the molecular biology diagnosis techniques helped more in excluding the diagnosis of mucoepidermoid carcinoma, and probably retrospectively limiting the number of cases with this final diagnosis. In Romania, the molecular biology diagnosis is available only in limited research facilities and should receive more consistent funding that will make it available on a larger scale. The novelty of this scoping review is that we propose an algorithm for molecular differential diagnosis of the tumors that could be encountered in the parotid gland.

Keywords: carcinoma; diagnosis; genes; gland; molecular biology; mucoepidermoid; parotid; tumor.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
PRISMA flowchart of current scoping review. * Category 1: case reports, clinical studies, clinical trials, clinical trial protocols, clinical trial phases I to IV, comparative studies, controlled clinical trials, guidelines, meta-analyses, multicenter studies, observational studies, practice guidelines, randomized controlled trials, reviews, and systematic reviews [15].
Figure 2
Figure 2
Proposal of a molecular biology differential diagnosis of parotid gland tumors. (#) indicates pathologies with only theoretical data about the possible tests to be performed.
Figure 3
Figure 3
A low-grade mucoepodermoid carcinoma, with intermediate and mucous cells forming cystic structures, HE 200×.
Figure 4
Figure 4
A low-grade mucoepidermoid carcinoma, with a predominance of mucous cells forming cystic structures, HE 200×.
Figure 5
Figure 5
A low-grade mucoepodermoid carcinoma, with a predominance of mucous cells forming cystic structures, plus foci of mucinous-rich epithelium arranged in fused papillary structures, HE 200×.
Figure 6
Figure 6
A low-grade mucoepodermoid carcinoma, with intermediate and mucous cells, detail, HE 400×.
Figure 7
Figure 7
MEC with an intermediate histological grade, detail of intermediate cells, HE 400×.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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