Plasmacytoid myoepithelioma of the soft palate. Report of a case with cytologic, immunohistochemical and electron microscopic studies.

Background: The plasmacytoid variant is a rare and controversial subtype of myoepithelioma that lacks myogenic differentation and the cytologic findings of which have not been reported previously.

Methods: A 46-year-old man presented with a painless tumor located in the soft palate. Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) showed odd-shaped cellular aggregates and single cells with round nuclei and finely granular cytoplasm resembling plasma cells together with strands of metachromatic stroma. The light, immunohistochemical and ultrastructural studies performed on the surgical specimen confirmed the initial cytologic diagnosis.

Conclusions: Recognition of the cytologic findings of plasmacytoid myoepithelioma on needle aspirates allows a reliable and quick diagnosis that prompts correct management.