Clear cell carcinoma of the major salivary glands in an HIV-infected patient

Clear cell carcinoma is a rare type of salivary gland carcinoma. It has a low degree of malignancy and long-term prognosis is favourable after surgical removal. The authors describe the case of a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected 43-year-old woman who presented with a tumour on the floor of the mouth. After biopsy, left suprahyoid lymph node dissection and removal of the submandibular and sublingual glands was performed, followed by radiotherapy. Histologically, the tumour presented the characteristic features of hyalinizing clear cell carcinoma, defined as a variant of clear cell carcinoma by the latest World Health Organization classification. Hyalinizing clear cell carcinoma has a characteristic histological pattern and, to date, there is insufficient information to determine whether both forms behave similarly or differently. The present case illustrates a highly uncommon tumour variant occurring in a HIV-infected patient. To date, this association has not been described in the medical literature. The low grade of malignancy reported for this tumour demands a precise diagnosis and complete tumoral excision.