The aim of this study is to characterize personal consultation practice in salivary pathology and to identify most common diagnostic challenges. Seven hundred sixty consultation requests were prospectively indexed over 12 months, and 205 cases of salivary type tumors were identified. The following data were recorded: anatomic site, patients' age and gender, geographic origin of cases, diagnoses by submitting pathologist and consultant, and turn-around time. Final diagnosis was offered by submitting pathologist in 77 of 205 cases (37.5%). The definitive diagnosis was provided to contributors in 188 of 205 cases (91.7%); diagnostic limitations and potential adequacy issues were addressed in 17 remaining cases. The average turn-around time was 4.4 days. The three most common diagnostic problems were acinic cell carcinoma, epithelial myoepithelial carcinoma, and adenoid cystic carcinoma. Pathologists' adherence to recommendations by Association of Directors of Anatomic and Surgical Pathology regarding consultation practice is described.

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