Cribriform adenocarcinoma of minor salivary glands presented as a nasopharyngeal tumor: A case report highlighting the significance of cytology.

Cribriform adenocarcinoma of minor salivary gland (CAMSG) is a rare malignancy presenting cytologic features resembling papillary thyroid carcinoma, localized in the oral cavity and oropharynx. Although cervical lymph node (LN) metastasis is a frequent manifestation of CMSG, there are few publications evaluating its cytology. The aim of this report was to present a CAMSG in an unusual location in the light of cytologic features, thereby enriching the spectrum of fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) differential diagnosis. We report a case of a 76-year-old woman presenting an enlarged submandibular LN on physical examination. Computed tomography revealed a submucosal lesion situated predominantly in the nasopharynx. FNAB and subsequently an open biopsy of submandibular LN were conducted. In cytologic smear cribriform, dense clusters of monomorphic round-oval tumor cells with scant cytoplasm were observed. Histologically, the tumor was composed of oval, overlapping cells with bright nuclear chromatin and nuclear grooves forming cribriform, papillary, and solid structures. Immunohistochemistry panel revealed the following: TTF-1 (-), thyroglobulin (-), S100 (+), p63 (+), Gal-3 (+), and CK19 (+) focally. The diagnosis of CAMSG should be considered when dealing with nasopharyngeal mass. Commonly, nodal metastases are observed in this tumor; therefore, appropriate evaluation of cytologic smear is crucial for patient management.