[On the occurrence of so-called clear cells in salivary gland tumors. Ultrastructure and differential diagnosis (author's transl)].

Abstract

Clear cell tumors of the salivary glands are monomorphic clear cell adenomas, clear cell carcinomas, clear cell variants of acinic cell and mucoepidermoid tumours, sebaceous cell tumors, salivary duct carcinomas and pleomorphic adenomas with clear cell sectors. At the light microscopical level the descriptive term of the clear cell comprises cell types of different origin and functional importance which can be differentiated by cytochemistry and electron microscopy. The following cell types were analysed precisely: indifferent duct cells (small formation of organelles, desmosomes), storing striated duct cells (glycogen granules, multiple mitochondrias, basal labyrinth), myoepithelial cells (myofilaments, pinocytosis vesicles, lipofuscin granules, hemidesmosomes), goblet cells (mucous vacuoles, basal endoplasmatic reticulum), sebaceous cells (lipid droplets, microvilli, desmosomes) and clear acinic cells (electron pale secretory granules, small mitochondrias, small golgi apparatus). Clear cell tumor types of the salivary gland region which primarely do not derive from the salivary gland tissue must also be included in the differential diagnoses. These are metastases of hypernephroid renal carcinomas, paragangliomas, glomus tumors of Masson, granular cell tumor and alveolar soft-part sarcomas.