Oncocytic myoepithelioma and pleomorphic adenoma of the salivary glands

Twenty oncocytic myoepitheliomas (MEs) and pleomorphic adenomas (PAs) were composed of interlacing fascicles of swollen spindle-shaped or/and epithelioid oncocytic myoepithelial cells showing intense finely granular immunoreactivity with anti-mitochondrial antibody. Focal vacuolation of the cytoplasm of oncocytic myoepithelial cells and their gradual transition into sebaceous metaplasia were observed in 3 cases. Another unusual feature found in 5 cases was the presence of slit-like adenomatoid spaces lined with double-layered oncocytic myoepithelium closely resembling Warthin's tumour. The nuclei of oncocytic cells were characterized by enlargement, hyperchromasia and polymorphism, which should not be confused with malignancy. Oncocytic change in myoepithelial cells in MEs and PAs can cause pitfalls in the differential diagnosis of salivary gland tumours. We describe some unusual histological features associated with onococytic metaplasia in benign myoepithelial cell-derived salivary gland rumours, hoping to help to avoid the overdiagnosis of malignancy.