basaloid neoplasm

basaloid neoplasm

A term of art used in cytopathology for a family of cytologically (by fine needle aspiration, FNA) similar tumours which cover the entire spectrum of biologic behaviour, from benign and low-grade malignancies to the aggressive solid variant of adenoid cystic carcinoma. In contrast to the other lesions assessed by FNA, in which differentiating benign from malignant lesions is relatively straightforward, precise cytologic diagnosis is not possible with many FNAs that show basaloid cells only.
DiffDx
• Chronic sialadenitis;
• Cellular pleomorphic adenoma;
• Basal cell adenoma;
• Basal cell adenocarcinoma;
• Metastatic basal cell carcinoma (extremely rare);
• Metastatic basaloid squamous cell carcinoma
• Adenoid cystic carcinoma (solid variant);
• Small cell carcinoma.