Peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumor of the parotid gland region: Report of a case with fine-needle aspiration findings

A case of peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumor of the parotid gland r egion in a 38-yr-old woman is reported She had a 1-yr history of a large, f irm, and slightly tender left parotid-region mass. CT scan showed an invasi ve tumor involving the parotid gland, mandible, infratemporal fossa, and pa rapharyngeal space. Fine-needle aspiration cytology of the mass showed a hi ghly cellular; poorly cohesive smear pattern exhibiting small cuboidal cell s, with fibrillary cytoplasm forming occasional rosette-like structures. Nu merous intact single cells with fragile cytoplasm finely granular chromatin , and inconspicuous nucleoli were present together with free-lying nuclei i n the background Histologic, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural findi ngs confirmed the diagnosis. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2000;22:161-166. Published 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.