Small cell (OAT cell) carcinoma of minor salivary gland origin

Abstract

Fourteen anaplastic, small cell cancers of minor salivary glands, histologically akin to oat cell carcinoma of the bronchus, were presented. Half of the patients had neck node metastases; four patients survived 5 years or longer. The possibility of minor salivary gland primaries must be kept in mind whenever small cell carcinomas are found in neck nodes. A speculative comment on the possible common cellular origin of these minor salivary gland tumors and oat cell carcinoma of the lung is offered.