Prevalence of NUT carcinoma in head and neck: Analysis of 362 cases with literature review
Taebum Lee, Junhun Cho, Chung‐Hwan Baek, Young‐Ik Son, Han‐Sin Jeong, Man Ki Chung, Sang Duk Hong, Yong Chan Ahn, Dong Ryul Oh, Jae Myoung Noh, Keunchil Park, Myung‐Ju Ahn, Hyungjin Kim, Yi Kyung Kim, Young Hyeh Ko
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Nuclear protein in testis (NUT) carcinoma is a poorly differentiated carcinoma defined by the presence of NUT gene rearrangement. In the head and neck, the true prevalence of NUT carcinoma is unknown. METHODS: We retrospectively investigated NUT expression with clinicopathologic features in 362 patients of poorly differentiated or undifferentiated carcinomas in the head and neck, and reviewed the literature reports. RESULTS: Four (4/362, 1.1%) cases showed strong nuclear expression for NUT-specific monoclonal antibody, and all these tumors were in the sinonasal tract (4/40, 10%). The clinical outcome and histology were diverse unlike previously described. Although previous studies reported different frequency results according to study subjects, frequencies in sinonasal tract are relatively constant (10/80, 12.5%). CONCLUSIONS: This is the largest study on the prevalence of NUT carcinoma in head and neck areas. It is important to include in the differential diagnosis of poorly differentiated carcinoma, particularly in the sinonasal tract.