Salivary Gland Lesions: A Retrospective Study of 100 Cases of Salivary Swelling Presenting for Fnac at Cytopathology Department, Cims, Bilaspur

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) of the salivary gland is a time tested, cost effective, reliable and safe technique in the diagnosis of both neoplastic and non-neoplastic lesions of the salivary gland. It also helps to eliminate confusion with lymphadenopathies as there is a lot of overlap in the clinical presentation of both salivary gland and lymph node swellings. Here we aim to study the incidence of common salivary gland pathologies in our set up and also attempt to analyze the role of FNAC in differentiating between sialadenopathies and lymphadenopathies. METHODS: A retrospective study of 100 consecutive patients clinically diagnosed with salivary gland pathologies and referred to Cytopathology Section, Department of Pathology, CIMS, Bilaspur for FNAC was conducted from 01.04.2004 to 07.05.2010. Clinically diagnosed lymph node swellings which subsequently evinced salivary gland cytopathology were also included in this study. The lesions were classified based on cytomorphological diagnostic criteria and different incidental parameters like age, sex, location, presenting symptoms, duration of complaints etc were calculated. RESULTS: The lesions were broadly categorized cytomorphologically into non-neoplastic salivary gland lesions (42.5%), benign neoplastic salivary gland lesions (46.25%) and malignant salivary gland lesions (11.25 %) after excluding the negative results (aspiration failure, inadequate material, non salivary cytopathology). M:F Ratio was 1.56:1 (61:39). Parotid was the most common salivary gland involved (47.5%). The most common benign salivary neoplasm was pleomorphic adenoma (38.75%) and the most common malignant neoplasm was mucoepidermoid carcinoma (7.5%). CONCLUSION: FNAC is a reliable, safe and simple outpatient procedure in the diagnosis of salivary gland lesions, and is also of some value in distinguishing salivary lesions from clinically indistinguishable non salivary swellings occurring in the same locations.