A Fourth Minor Salivary Gland Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma with 11q14-21 and 19p12 Rearrangements

During the last decades we have conducted systematic cytogenetic studies of human salivary gland tumors. So far specific structural aberrations have been found in two benign tumor types, namely the pleomorphic adenoma and Warthin's tumor. Observations for the last five years have provided firm evidence that specific numerical and/or structural deviations also do characterize some malignant tumor types. To this group belongs mucoepidermoid carcinoma despite the fact that only a dozen cases have been thoroughly studied. We describe observations in an additional case. The results will be compared with previous findings and discussed with regard to specificity of the abnormalities and possible importance of the site of origin of the primary tumor.