Image Description
Adenoid cystic carcinoma shows an admixture of many architectural patterns, including cribriform, tubular, and solid growth with a myxohyaline stroma. There are two cell types - abundant basaloid cells with myoepithelial differentiation and eosinophilic epithelial cells with ductal differentiation.
The cribriform areas are almost always present, even if focally. They consist of variable-sized, smooth contoured lobules or islands of uniform basaloid cells punctuated by round rigid gland-like spaces. These spaces are not true glandular lumens but represent stromal invaginations (pseudocysts). They are filled with eosinophilic material (PAS-positive, diastase-resistant; reduplicated basal lamina) or basophilic myxoid mucinous material (Alcian blue positive). True glandular structures lined by low cuboidal cells with eosinophilic cytoplasm are also present.
Image courtesy of: @Patholwalker
The cribriform areas are almost always present, even if focally. They consist of variable-sized, smooth contoured lobules or islands of uniform basaloid cells punctuated by round rigid gland-like spaces. These spaces are not true glandular lumens but represent stromal invaginations (pseudocysts). They are filled with eosinophilic material (PAS-positive, diastase-resistant; reduplicated basal lamina) or basophilic myxoid mucinous material (Alcian blue positive). True glandular structures lined by low cuboidal cells with eosinophilic cytoplasm are also present.
Image courtesy of: @Patholwalker