Although rare, some salivary tumours can grow primarily in nearby bones instead of salivary glands. The diagnosis of said tumours is defined by Batsakis criteria (1979).
I would like to know if someone has knowledge regarding their pathogenesis: how are the neoplastic cells reaching into the bone? Are we talking about embryonal residues (therefore similar to Warthin tumour pathogenesis), metaplasia, transdifferentiation of bone cells...?
Primary salivary gland tumors arise from major or minor salivary glands. Bone is devoid of such glands but primary salivary glands can invade bone if present in vicinity esp in head and neck regions. They can also show osseus metaplasia.
One potential mechanism is the presence of embryonal residues. During embryogenesis, ectopic salivary gland tissue can become entrapped within developing bones, leading to the formation of tumors later in life. This theory is similar to the pathogenesis of Warthin's tumor, where embryonic rests of salivary gland tissue may develop into neoplastic growths. Also, metaplasia and transdifferentiation. Transdifferentiation involves the conversion of one mature somatic cell type into another without undergoing an intermediate pluripotent state. In the context of salivary gland tumors in bones, mesenchymal stem cells or osteogenic cells within the bone might transdifferentiate into salivary gland-like epithelial cells.
- Badges
- Science topic