Is c‐kit (CD117) immunolocalization in cell block preparations useful in the differentiation of adenoid cystic carcinoma from pleomorphic adenoma?

The authors examined the role of c‐kit antigen expression in cell block material obtained by fine‐needle aspiration in differentiating between adenoid cystic carcinoma and pleomorphic adenoma. It was found that c‐kit expression was not restricted to adenoid cystic carcinomas; instead, c‐kit was expressed in pleomorphic adenomas as well. Thus, c‐kit was not useful in distinguishing between these two types of lesions.