Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology of Secretory Carcinoma of the Parotid Gland in a Young Patient

Abstract

Secretory carcinoma (SC) is a rare recently described entity that has characteristics similar to those of secretory breast carcinoma. We report a case of a 23 years old male with a swelling on the parotid gland. The ultrasonography guided fine needle aspiration cytology was performed on mass. Cytologically, the background of the aspirate is composed of inflammatory cells admixed with mucinous material. There were isolated cells as much as loosely cohesive clusters making papillary follicle-like glands with eosinophilic material in the lumen. Tumor cells were medium-sized round shape and eccentric nuclei with prominent nucleoli, remarkably vacuolated cytoplasm. The parotidectomy was performed and the pathology report revealed a SC. Histologically, the tumor is composed of microcystic, follicular, and micropapillary areas. The cytoplasm is usually vacuolated with also clear eosinophilic appearance. Immunohistochemically, tumor cells labeled with S100, MUC-4. At 5 years, the patient is disease-free and under regular follow-up.