CYTOLOGICAL STUDY OF SALIVARY GLAND LESIONS ALONG WITH HISTOPATHOLOGICAL CORRELATION IN A TERTIARY CARE CENTRE.

Abstract

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to analyze the relative frequency and distribution of different salivary gland lesions on Fine needle aspiration cytology, to study histopathological correlation and evaluate the diagnostic accuracy and efficacy of this procedure in diagnosing the lesions. Materials and Methods: A five year study was performed on salivary gland swellings in a tertiary health care center. Fine needle aspiration cytology was done and smears were stained with Leishman, Hematoxylin and eosin stains. Histopathology was done wherever possible. Cytological and histopathological correlation was done and results were statistically analyzed. Results: 100 cases were studied. Lesions were categorized into non-neoplastic and neoplastic lesions. Chronic sialadenitis was the most common non- neoplastic lesion and Pleomorphic Adenoma was the commonest benign lesion. Malignant lesions reported were Adenoid Cystic carcinoma, Mucoepidermoid carcinoma, Carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma and three cases were interpreted as positive for malignancy.38 cases were available for histopathology, out of which 34 showed positive correlation. The diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of the present study is 94.74%, 75%, 100%, 100% and 100% respectively. Conclusion: Fine needle aspiration cytology is a rapid, cost-effective and safe mode of investigation for the primary categorization of salivary gland lesions into inflammatory, benign and malignant lesions. The high diagnostic accuracy and low false positive and false negative diagnosis suggests that it can be used as a first line diagnostic procedure in the evaluation of patients with various salivary gland lesions. However, histopathological diagnosis still remains the gold standard.