Mz. Gilcrease et al., Salivary duct carcinoma - Is a specific diagnosis possible by fine needle aspiration cytology?, ACT CYTOL, 42(6), 1998, pp. 1389-1396
Citations number
30
Categorie Soggetti
Research/Laboratory Medicine & Medical Tecnology","Medical Research Diagnosis & Treatment
OBJECTIVE: To review the cytomorphologic features of salivary duct carcinom
a and to evaluate the likelihood of definitive diagnosis by fine needle asp
iration.
STUDY DESIGN: The cytomorphologic features of two cases of salivary duct ca
rcinoma, both occurring in the parotid gland in men over 80 years of age, w
ere evaluated by fine needle aspiration and compared to cytologic features
described in the literature. Additionally, previously reported diagnoses re
ndered by fine needle aspiration of salivary duct carcinomas were compiled
from the cytology literature. The likelihood of arriving at a definitive di
agnosis by fine needle aspiration was determined from the frequency of corr
ect cytologic diagnoses reported in the literature.
RESULTS: The most characteristic features of salivary duct carcinoma by fin
e needle aspiration appear to be lat sheets with a cribriform pattern and t
umor cells in a necrotic background with pleomorphic, eccentric nuclei and
granular cytoplasm. However, no definitive diagnoses of salivary duct carci
noma by fine needle aspiration have been recorded in the cytology literatur
e.
CONCLUSION: Because of the morphologic spectrum displayed by this tumor and
the absence of definitive cytologic diagnoses in the literature to date, i
t is unclear whether a diagnosis of salivary duct carcinoma can be rendered
by fine needle aspiration. Nevertheless, if cribriform groups are noted in
a salivary gland aspirate, the diagnosis of salivary duct carcinoma should
at least be considered.