OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical and pathological characteristics of salivary duct carcinoma (SOC) so as to provide basis for the diagnosis and therapy of SOC.

METHODSEight patients suffered with SOC treated in Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Kunming Medical College from March 2001 to February 2009 were studied retrospectively including the clinical data. Meanwhile, eight tumor specimens were examined for vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), cytokeratin (CK), gross cystic disease fluid protein (CC DFP)-15, androgen receptor (AR) and oncogene C-erBb-2 protein expression via immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSOf the eight patients with SOC, five tumors grew in the parotid gland, the majority of the patients had facial nerve paralysis, three had recurrence. Computerized tomography (CT) showed that no obvious margin and similar crystal. Immunohistochemical staining for the expression of VEGF, CK, GCDFP-15 and C-erbB-2 were carried out in all SOC, while AR in majority.

CONCLUSIONSOC is a high-grade malignant carcinoma among all salivary carcinoma, immunohistochemical analysis of SOC has revealed a variety of similarities to ductal carcinoma of the breast. GCDFP-15, AR and C-erBb--2 may play an important role in pathological diagnosis for SOC.