Penis & scrotum
Other tumors
Adenosquamous carcinoma
Authors: Alcides Chaux, M.D., Antonio L. Cubilla, M.D.
Last author update: 1 April 2010
Last staff update: 26 April 2023
Copyright: 2002-2024, PathologyOutlines.com, Inc.
PubMed Search: Adenosquamous carcinoma penis
Table of Contents
Definition / general | Epidemiology | Sites | Etiology | Clinical features | Case reports | Gross description | Gross images | Microscopic (histologic) description | Microscopic (histologic) images | Positive stains | Differential diagnosisCite this page: Chaux A, Cubilla AL. Adenosquamous carcinoma. PathologyOutlines.com website. https://www.pathologyoutlines.com/topic/penscrotumadenosq.html. Accessed May 1st, 2024.
Definition / general
- Mixed tumor composed of neoplastic squamous nests intermingled with areas of glandular differentiation
- ICD-0: 8560 / 3
Epidemiology
- 1 - 2% of all penile carcinomas (Anal Quant Cytol Histol 2007;29:185)
- Mean age of 55 years (range 30 - 74 years)
Sites
- Most common is glans but extension to coronal sulcus and inner foreskin is also common
Etiology
- May originate in misplaced glandular cells in perimeatal region, in metaplastic goblet cells of foreskin mucosa or as aberrant differentiation of squamous epithelium
Clinical features
- Local recurrence in up to 25% and inguinal nodal metastases in 43 - 50% of cases
- Low mortality rate (0 - 14%)
Case reports
- 3 patients (ages 37, 72 and 74 years) with superficial tumors (Am J Surg Pathol 1996;20:156)
Gross description
- Firm, gray-white and granular tumor
Gross images
AFIP images
Various images
Microscopic (histologic) description
- Squamous cell and glandular patterns, with squamous cell pattern usually predominating
- Both components are usually discrete but mixtures can be found
- Glands produce intraluminal and intracellular mucin
- Frequent presence of penile intraepithelial neoplasia in adjacent mucosa
Microscopic (histologic) images
Contributed by Alcides Chaux, M.D. and Antonio Cubilla, M.D.
Nests and differentiation
AFIP images
Infiltrating tumor
has squamous
and glandular
features
Glandular portion is CEA+
Cervix: poorly formed glands and squamous components (arrows)
Images hosted on other servers:
Cervix: malignant glandular (arrow) and squamous components (star)
Differential diagnosis
- Adenosquamous (mucoepidermoid) carcinoma of urethra: ventral in penis, restricted to periurethral tissue and corpus cavernosa
- Littré gland adenocarcinoma: ventral in penis, restricted to periurethral tissue and corpus cavernosa
- Metastatic disease: usually involves shaft, tumor emboli present (Int J Surg Pathol 2011;19:597)
- Mucoepidermoid carcinoma: mixed tumor with mucin but no glandular or ductal structures
- Pseudoglandular (acantholytic, adenoid) carcinoma: prominent acantholysis simulates glandular spaces but lining is composed of squamous epithelium; spaces contain necrotic debris and keratin, not mucin
