Oncocytic adenocarcinoma of the submandibular gland

BACKGROUND: Malignant oncocytic tumors rarely occur in major salivary glands and generally account for < 1% of all salivary tumors. There is no difference of both sexes and appearing mainly between 50 and 60 years of age. They comprise oncocytes, which are epithelial cells with abnormally formed cytoplasm and acidophilic granular cytoplasma. In the process of the malignant transformation the coexistence from oncocytic rests and untypical oncocytic carcinoma portions can be seen. The tumors show no capsule and an infiltrative local growth with perineural and vascular expansions. PATIENT AND METHOD: A rare case of a 59-year-old man with malignant oncocytoma is presented. The tumor was found in the left submandibular gland with one enlarged lymph node near by. RESULT AND CONCLUSIONS: A general overview of the available literature and the histological classification of oncocytomas is given. Therapy consists of surgical resection and radiotherapy. Close clinical controls are necessary.