Abstract
The aim of surgical pathology of head and neck diseases is definitive diagnosis of the lesion and determination of the therapy. To reach these goals, both head and neck surgeons and pathologists should make efforts to correlate and share the process of thinking.
For correct and meaningful pathological diagnosis, not only interpretation of microscopic findings but also understanding of clinical information, imaging, gross findings and appropriate specimen handling are very important.
This report also mentions two newly described tumor entities that will be headings in the new WHO classification of head and neck tumors. Mammary analogue secretory carcinoma (MASC) is a recently recognized salivary gland tumor harboring an ETV6-NTRK3 translocation similar to that of secretory carcinoma of the breast. Histologically, MASC often mimics acinic cell carcinoma.
NUT (nuclear protein in testis) midline carcinoma is an aggressive undifferentiated carcinoma arising in the mediastinum, sinonasal cavity and larynx which is characterized by BRD4-NUT gene rearrangement. NUT midline carcinoma should be discriminated from poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma, neuroendocrine carcinoma and Ewing sarcoma/Primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET).
