Melanin bearing myoepithelial cells in a pigmented salivary gland carcinoma: a new avatar of myoepithelial cell? A case report.

Melanocytes can be found in the stroma of salivary glands and their tumors. However, the presence of melanin pigment in the tumor cells of salivary gland origin is exceedingly rare. A 42-year-old man presented with a nasal tumor that was black in color. The histology was that of a minor salivary gland carcinoma with foci resembling an adenoid cystic carcinoma. The myoepithelial cells of this tumor contained melanin pigment. The possible histogenesis of this lesion and an explanation for the occurrence of melanin pigment in a salivary gland tumor are discussed.