The Three-Dimensional Architecture of the Cribriform Pattern in Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma of Salivary Gland Origin

Abstract

The three-dimensional (3-D) architecture of the cribriform pattern in adenoid cystic carcinoma of salivary gland origin was studied by histological and immunohistochemical findings. Tumor cell nests had numerous spaces composed of both laminin negative true cystic spaces and laminin positive pseudocystic spaces with occasional interconnection to the outer stromal tissue by light microscope. By the 3-D architecture, in tumor cell nests with predominant pseudocyst, the true cystic spaces showed the isolated spherical shape, whereas the pseudocystic spaces showed the spherical and/or ovoid shape interconnected with other pseudocystic spaces. The mean number of argyrophilic nucleolar organizer regions (AgNORs) per nucleus of the tumor cells forming the pseudocyst was significantly higher than that forming the true cyst. This study supports that these 3-D features were useful for a better understanding of biological characteristics of epithelial tumor cell nests of adenoid cystic carcinoma.