Cytomorphological Spectrum of Salivary Gland Lesions by Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology

Abstract

Introduction: Salivary gland lesions encompass a baffling subset of lesions with overlapping morphologies on cytomorphology, due to their heterogenous histologies and rare enough to sometimes bewilder even the most knowledgeable cytopathologists. The technique of fine needle aspiration (FNA) cytology in the evaluation of salivary gland lesion is simple to perform, saves time, reliable, safe and inexpensive. FNA is highly accurate when used in proper clinical setting and supported by appropriate clinical and relevant diagnostic data. Rapidity of obtaining a pathological diagnosis allows more intelligent therapeutic approach. Materials and Methods: It was a prospective study carried out in the cytology section of pathology department for a period of two years using fine needle aspiration as a diagnostic tool as per standard protocol. The clinical and radiological data were obtained from the patient’s case papers and collaboration with the operating surgeon, the lesions were analysed on cytology. Haematoxylin & Eosin, Papanicolaou stain and Giemsa were used as standard stains. Results: A total of 66 cases of salivary gland lesions were aspirated for a period of two years. Majority of cases were in the age group of 21-30 years with 36 male patients (55%) and 30 female patients (45%). About 44(66.7%), 19(28.8%), 1(1.5%) and 2(3.0%) cases occurred in parotid gland, submandibular gland, sublingual gland and minor salivary gland respectively. There were 21(32%) cases of non-neoplastic lesions and 45(68%) cases of neoplastic lesions. Histopathological specimens were available in 11 out of 66 cases and showed correlation with cytological findings. Conclusion: Fine needle aspiration cytology of salivary gland lesions has high diagnostic accuracy, helps in appropriate therapeutic management and is useful as a diagnostic procedure because of the availability of earlier diagnosis in comparison with the histopathology. Keywords: Salivary gland lesions, fine needle aspiration cytology, neoplastic, non-neoplastic.