Impending Doom: A Rare Case of Metastatic Myoepithelial Carcinoma

Abstract

Myoepithelial carcinoma is a rare malignant tumor arising from myoepithelial cells. The usual sites of occurrence are the oral cavity and pharynx with the majority of tumors arising from the salivary gland. However, there have been reported cases of myoepithelial carcinoma seen in the superficial soft tissue, upper respiratory tract, breast, skin, and GI tract. Deep soft tissue myoepithelial carcinoma is relatively uncommon.Due to the rarity of this malignancy, consensus on appropriate therapy remains sparse. However, complete resection and/or adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy have been advocated for non-metastatic localized diseases. Sadly, the reported outcome in patients with metastatic disease remains dismal.In this case, we report a 79-year-old male incidentally found to have a deep soft tissue mass in the sacral area with a coexistent left axillary lymphadenopathy with biopsy and immunohistochemistry confirmation of metastatic myoepithelial carcinoma. He had a rapid clinical deterioration with subsequent fatality.

Uncommon metastases to the brain: Frontal lobe myoepithelial carcinoma

“…ey are now increasingly being recognized in varied anatomical sites including head and neck (tongue, paranasal sinuses, pharynx, and larynx), breast, skin, vulva, respiratory, and gastrointestinal tract. [2,16] e occurrence of myoepithelial tumors within the central nervous system is also extremely rare, with only a few cases reported. [1,2,4,11] Most commonly these tumors present as benign myoepitheliomas, but malignant myoepithelial carcinomas have been known to metastasize to the lungs, bone, soft tissue, skin, liver, and brain.…”

“…They are now increasingly being recognized in varied anatomical sites including head and neck (tongue, paranasal sinuses, pharynx, and larynx), breast, skin, vulva, respiratory, and gastrointestinal tract. [ 2 , 16 ] The occurrence of myoepithelial tumors within the central nervous system is also extremely rare, with only a few cases reported. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 11 ]…”

“…However, there have been reported cases seen in soft tissue, upper respiratory tract, breast, skin, and gastrointestinal tract. [ 16 ] Primary intracranial myoepithelial neoplasms also have been described and are even rarer with around ten cases reported, according to literature. [ 11 ] Myoepithelial tumors can be classified as either benign myoepitheliomas or malignant myoepithelial carcinomas.…”