Cytomorphologic Pitfall of Primary Malignant Melanoma of the Parotid Gland

Abstract

Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) of the salivary glands is a routine procedure in the diagnostic workup of benign and malignant lesions. Primary malignant melanoma of the salivary gland is a rare disease, and only afew cases describing FNAC have been reported.We present a case of primary malignant melanoma of the right parotid gland. Cytomorphologically it was classified as adenocarrinoma. However, histologic examination revealed the diagnosis of malignant melanoma. At first clinical presentation of the patient, no other sites were involved. It was remarkable that 3 months after diagnosis of primary malignant melanoma in the right parotid gland, supraclavicular lymph nodes appeared on the left side. The patient underwent parotidectomy and neck dissection of both sites.The cellular aspirates from primary malignant melanoma of the parotid gland were cytologically mistaken for adenocarcinoma. This cytologic pitfall required additional histologic examination.