Immunohistochemical studies of keratin distribution in salivary gland tumors.

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Abstract
Immunohistochemical staining with keratin antiserum was performed on formalin-fixed paraffin sections of 63 specimens of human salivary gland tumors including normal salivary glands. Strong keratin staining was evident in ductal segments of the parotid and submandibular glands. Significantly intense staining for keratin proteins was found in luminal epithelia of tubular, duct-like and cystic dilated epithelial structures in pleomorphic adenoma, squamous metaplastic regions and squamous carcinomas. Myoepithelial cells in normal salivary glands were not clearly positive for keratin staining, nor were tumor cells which were possibly myoepithelium-derived, whereas, modified myoepithelial tumor cells in hyalinous and/or myxomatous regions displayed varying degrees of keratin staining. Epithelial cells of Warthin''s tumor were strongly reactive. Mucoepidermoid carcinomas also showed positive keratin staining in proportion to the number of mixed epidermoid cells present. Adenoid cystic carcinomas showed slight staining for keratin in scattered tumor cells.