Title: A Study on Cytological Spectrum of Salivary Gland Lesions with Emphasis on Diagnostic Pitfalls in Interpretation of Cystic Lesions

Authors: Priya MG, Sheela KM

 DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v8i5.94

Abstract

 

Background: Fine needle aspiration cytology has gained wide clinical acceptance as a direct approach to morphological diagnosis of salivary gland lesions. Salivary gland neoplasms are a heterogenous diverse group of tumours with many associated factors that make their diagnosis by cytology difficult. Limited cellularity and morphological lesion heterogenicity can pose diagnostic challenges, although many of the salivary gland lesions can be diagnosed with ease on fine needle aspiration cytology.

Materials and Method: This descriptive retrospective study was under taken at Pathology Department, Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram over a period of 18 months. The study was conducted on 250 patients who underwent fine needle aspiration cytology of salivary glands at Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram. Histopathological data was obtained in 115 cases. 

Results: Parotid gland was the most commonly involved salivary gland. Age group ranged from 2-77 years. Out of 250 patients who underwent fine needle aspiration cytology, 151 patients were males (60.4 %) and 99 were females (39.6 %). Neoplasms were common (66.9 %) than non neoplastic lesions.

Diagnostic accuracy of fine needle aspiration cytology was 73.91 %, Sensitivity 64.3 %, Specificity 75.25 %, Positive predictive value 86.36 % and Negative predictive value 86.3 %.

Conclusion: Fine needle aspiration cytology is useful, quick, cost effective, reliable diagnostic modality for rapid diagnosis of salivary gland lesions.

Keywords: FNAC, salivary glands, cytologic spectrum, diagnostic pitfalls, mucoepidermoid carcinoma, cystic salivary gland lesions.

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Corresponding Author

Dr Sheela KM

Associate Professor (Non Cadre), Department of Pathology, Government Medical College, Trivandrum