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Published on: May 23, 2015
Fine needle aspiration cytology of cellular pleomorphic adenoma
1Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, East Carolina University School of Medicine, Greenville, North Carolina 27858-4354, USA.
Objective:
To study the spectrum of cytologic changes seen in cellular pleomorphic adenoma (CPA) and to determine features that would allow a more specific diagnosis.
Study Design:
We reviewed 11 fine needle aspirates of surgically confirmed salivary gland CPA in addition to three discrepant cases in which CPA was strongly considered in the cytologic diagnosis.
Results:
Pleomorphic adenoma was considered in the differential diagnosis, but a difinitive cytologic diagnosis was not made in the 11 cases. Acinic cell carcinoma, basal cell adenoma, adenoid cystic carcinoma; myoepithelioma and spindle cell neoplasm accounted for most of the other diagnostic considerations. The three discrepant cases included a malignant myoepithelioma, acinic cell carcinoma and mucoepidermoid carcinoma.
Conclusion:
Familiarity with the variable aspirate appearance of CPA in addition to well-defined cytologic and architectural criteria can help establish the proper diagnosis in the majority of cases. There remain, however, few cases in which a definitive diagnosis is not possible.
