Atypical vimentin expression in a feline salivary gland adenocarcinoma with widespread metastases

Abstract

We report herein a feline salivary gland adenocarcinoma with widespread metastases to draining lymph nodes, liver and lung, as well as an unusual metastasis to the spleen. Histologically, the primary salivary gland tumor consisted of low columnar to polygonal epithelial cells forming tubules and trabeculae. The spleen was infiltrated with sheets of poorly differentiated large round cells. Interestingly, morphologic change in epithelial cells was accompanied with the acquisition of vimentin intermediate filaments, a feature particularly evident in the splenic metastasis. This study highlights the role of epithelial cell plasticity during carcinogenesis and metastasis.