Utility of fine-needle aspiration in the diagnosis of salivary gland lesions in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus

Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) has been increasingly utilized as a diagnostic tool in evaluating salivary gland masses, primarily to differentiate nonne oplastic from neoplastic lesions. Patients infected with human immuno defic iency virus (HIV) frequently present with salivary gland lesions. In this s tudy, we reviewed the cytology of salivary gland lesions in HIV-infected pa tients and assessed the value of FNA in the diagnosis of salivary gland les ions ill HIV-infected patients. One hundred and three FNAs of salivary glan d lesions from 78 HIV-infected patients (63 males and 15 females) were incl uded in our study. The patients' ages ranged from 7-65 yr, With a mean age of 40.9 yr. FNAs were classified into three categories: benign lymphoepithe lial lesions (BLL) (77 cases or 74.8%), inflammatory processes (14 cases or 13.6%), including 3 reactive lymphoid hyperplasia, and neoplastic lesions (6 cases or 5.8%). The latter included three malignant lymphomas, a multipl e. myeloma, a metastatic adenocarcinoma from a lung primary, and a direct e xtension of basal-cell carcinoma. Six (5.8%) aspirates were nondiagnostic. No false-positive or false-negative cases were noted during follow-up of th ese patients. In conclusion, FNA is a simple and cost-effective procedure f or the diagnosis of HIV-related salivary gland lesions. The majority of the se lesions are cystic BLL and can be managed conservatively. Malignant lesi ons are rarely encountered and are readily recognized by FNA. (C) 1999 Wile y-Liss, Inc.