Sialoblastoma: A historical review of diagnosis and management
Authors: Pâmela Borges Costa¹, Mariana Graça Nasr¹, Pedro Henrique
Esteves Gonçalves (MD)2, Sima Esther Ferman (MD,
PhD)3, Andressa Silva de Freitas
(SLP)4, Izabella Costa Santos
(MD,PhD)5, *
¹Medical Student of Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Head and Neck,
Brazilian National Cancer Institute, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil;2Head and Neck Surgery Department, Brazilian National
Cancer Institute, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; 3Chief
Pediatric Oncology Department, Brazilian National Cancer Institute, Rio
de Janeiro, Brazil; 4Speech therapist Department,
Brazilian National Cancer Institute, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil;5Head and Neck Surgery Department, Brazilian National
Cancer Institute, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
*Correspondence:ibellacs@yahoo.com.br; phone: +55 21 994900474
Abstract
The Sialoblastoma is a rare malignant tumor of the epithelial cells of
the salivary glands, with less than 100 cases reported. Its main
location is in the parotid gland, but it may affect other salivary
glands. The diagnosis should be investigated in cases of a congenital
tumor in the topography of these salivary glands and may be confirmed by
open biopsy, or after complete excision. Due to the rarity of the
disease, there is no consensus for the conduct in the literature, but
surgical treatment shown better outcomes. The adjuvant treatment with
chemotherapy may be feasible to advanced metastatic cases.
Introduction
Sialoblastoma is a rare malignant tumor originating from the
epithelial cells of the salivary glands, with most of the cases having a
congenital origin and occurring in the neonatal period or early
childhood, with a few cases reported in adults1. Only
77 cases are described in the literature. It is a rare neoplasm, being
estimated by The Surveillance Epidemiology database and End
Results2 an incidence of 0.1 per 100,000 salivary
gland tumors in children under 15 years old. This tumor affects the
major salivary glands, especially the parotid gland, where it presents
more aggressive behavior. The second most common occurrence site is the
submandibular gland, with a less aggressive behavior3,
however it can affect minor salivary glands and even ectopic salivary
glands4,5. The first record of sialoblastoma was in
1966, by Vawterand Tefftin, in which the author believed to be the first
parotid tumor recorded in a newborn, classifying it as a benign
tumor6. In 2005, the World Health Organization (WHO)
reclassified it as a malignant tumor of salivary
glands7.
Due to the rarity of this tumor, there is no consensus in the
literature regarding the management of this pathology. In the present
study, we report a case of a five-month-old patient who presented a
malignant tumor of the minor salivary gland in the right cheek mucosa
since birth and with rapid growth and development of metastases. She was
operated on at the National Cancer Institute and had a diagnosis of
Sialoblastoma, continuing her treatment in the same institution.
Case Report
L. F. R, female, since birth, a nodular lesion was observed on the
right side of the face. An ultrasound scan (USS) of the face was
performed when she was 22 days old. A solid hypoechogenic lesion was
observed, with well-defined contours, measuring 3.10 x 2.86 x 2.29 cm,
located in the subcutaneous cellular tissue and muscular planes on the
right side of the face. The initial hypothesis was a congenital
hemangioma, based on which treatment with beta-blockers (propranolol)
was prescribed for 4 months, but there was no response. Then she was
referred to the Brazilian National Cancer Institute at five months of
age. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the face was performed, showing
a lesion approximately 3.90 x 3.60 x 3.30 cm. Also, a computed
tomography (CT) scanned the chest, which showed diffusely distributed
nodules and soft tissue density highly suggestive of metastasis. Further
exams were performed, but inconclusive, including fine needle biopsy
(FNA).
Surgical treatment was performed by a transoral approach with complete
excision of the lesion (Fig. 1). The histopathological anatomy report
the sialoblastoma. The macroscopy showed a rounded tumor measuring 5.0 x
3.5 x 2.0 cm, partially covered by a capsule with a vascularized surface
with an epicenter on the right cheek mucosa. The immunohistochemical
report showed diffuse positivity for AE1 / AE3 with ductular
enhancement; Positive S-100; p63 positive; Calponin, Actin 1a4, negative
desmin and myogenin; and cell proliferation rate by ki67 of about 80%.
In follow up, the patient showed a good postoperative evolution,
removing the nasogastric tube after 5 days. A new MRI of the face was
requested (Fig. 2: B and D), without signs of residual disease or
recurrence. As the patient presented pulmonary nodules, the therapeutic
intervention of chemotherapy with etoposide, mesna and vincristine was
chosen. The patient is still monitored by the pediatric oncology.
The parents agreed to the publication and a form was signed
authorizing the use of the image.
Discussion
Sialoblastoma is a rare malignant tumor that is most common among the
pediatric population and it originates from the epithelial cells of the
salivary glands. According to Batsakis’ “salivary gland unit” theory,
this neoplasm results from the activation and proliferation of reserve
multipotent cells in rest11. The most commonly
affected sites, according to the literature, are the major salivary
glands, such as the parotid gland3. In the case
studied here, the minor salivary gland in the jugal mucosa was the
location affected.
Its main feature is the presence of a mass with accelerated growth in
the topography of the affected gland. The typical presentation is a
fibroelastic tumor in the parotid or cervical-facial region in the
child, which commonly leads to confusing diagnosis with other congenital
and neonatal tumors, such as hemangioma12. As reported
in the literature, in the case described, the main symptom was, since
birth, a mass with progressive and continuous increase in size in the
right nasogenian region. The diagnosis is confirmed by biopsy, however
fine needle aspiration is an alternative that aims to reduce morbidity
and accelerate the investigation3.
The histological findings of sialoblastoma are based on hematoxylin and
eosin staining and are corroborated by immunohistochemical findings
(S100, cytokeratin, P63, Her 2 Neu, hight ki67)13. In
the described report, the histopathological findings resulted in
sialoblastoma and the immunohistochemical ones were S-100 positive; p63
positive, and cell proliferation index by ki67 of around 80%. In
macroscopy, it was evidenced that areas of necrosis are related to a
worse prognosis of the disease14. In the literature,
it is described that p63 positivity is usually confirmed, with focal
positivity related to a favorable prognosis, whereas diffuse positivity
to unfavorable outcomes15. Positivity for ki67 is
associated with a worse prognosis and a greater chance of
recurrence14. Another important marker for the
diagnosis and course of the disease is the alpha-fetoprotein, which at
high serum levels is also considered a factor of aggravated
evolution3.
Image exams are important before surgeries and in the post-treatment
follow-up3. The description of these exams in the
literature regarding sialoblastoma is limited and there isn’t a defined
protocol. Computed tomography, in general, shows a hypodense soft tissue
mass concerning the brain and isodense regarding
muscles12,16. In nuclear magnetic resonance, an
isodense lesion was observed with muscle tissues in
T117. Di Micco et al described a well-defined mass
with increased echogenicity on ultrasound3.
Sialoblastoma is considered a locally aggressive tumor, but it is also
described in the literature as regional recurrences, lymphatic
dissemination, and distant metastases5. In the review
carried out by Kanaram from 1966 to 2011, of the 46 analyzed cases, ten
had local recurrence in 24 months of follow-up and no metastasis or
residual disease resulted in death. Analyzing the total number of cases
with recurrences, two had only pulmonary metastasis and two others
presented pulmonary metastasis and dissemination to cervical lymph
nodes12. Regarding the staging of sialoblastoma, in
1992, a histopathological criterion was proposed by Batsakis and
Frankenthaler, which define the stage of tumor malignancy and if the
surgical resection was effective11,18. The
characteristics evaluated include perineural and perivascular invasion
and cell necrosis with cytological atypia.
There is still no well-established protocol for first-line treatment.
The literature suggests that surgical resection with free margins is
sufficient for the treatment of low malignancy
tumors3,19. Qian Wang et al described that
chemotherapy plays an important role in the treatment of residual
disease, with extensive metastasis or recurrences1.
There is still no defined consensus regarding the indication for
prophylactic neck dissection. If there is clinical and radiological
evidence of metastasis, therapeutic neck dissection is
indicated20. In 2010, Xiao-Feng Shan described the
possibility of brachytherapy as an adjunct treatment to
surgery9. Thus, treatment must be individualized,
according to the patient’s age, the possibility of locoregional disease,
tumor aggressiveness, and the potential to develop metastasis
In the article we reported a rare case of a Sialoblastoma of the
minor salivary gland, with pulmonary metastasis, that was surgically
treated and underwent adjuvant chemotherapy. Due to rarity the diagnosis
was difficult at first and the treatment was delayed. The patient is
still on an ambulatorial and radiological follow up and a
multidisciplinary team is carrying out follow-up. We aim to contribute
to the literature of Sialoblastoma diagnosis and treatment.
The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.
Acknowledgements
We acknowledge the family of the patient and the Interdisciplinary
Laboratory of Head and Neck.
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Abbreviations