Value of cytopathology in the diagnosis of adenoid cystic carcinoma and an analysis of misdiagnoses

Abstract

Background The diagnosis of adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) by cytopathology can be challenging. This study was aimed at testing the effectiveness of this technique and at assessing possible differences in the coincidence rate of fine-needle aspiration cytology(FNAC) and brush exfoliation. Methods The pathology database of Southwest Medical University( Luzhou, China) was searched for patients who had undergone surgery or biopsy for ACC between January 2017 and January 2022 and had preoperative cytopathologic results. Their cytologic and histologic data were then analyzed retrospectively and the coincidence rates of cytopathology in the diagnosis of ACC were calculated. Results Compared with histopathology, the total coincidence rate of the cytologic diagnosis of ACC was 76.8%, that of FNAC was 78.9%, and that of brush exfoliation was 55.6%. Conclusion In the diagnosis of ACC, cytopathology is an effective tool; this is especially true of FNAC, which plays an important role in the diagnosis of ACC. The authors further suggest that it is advisable for diagnosticians to master the cytopathological features of ACC to reduce the possibility of preoperative misdiagnoses.

Efficiency of Fine-Needle Aspiration (FNA) in Relation to Tru-Cut Biopsy of Lateral Neck Swellings

“…Diagnostic accuracy, specificity, and sensitivity were 90.6%, 94.3%, and 73.6%, respectively. Consistent with our results were accuracy, specificity, and sensitivity in the studies of Wan Y, Akhavan-Moghadam J, and Alwagdani A [ 3 - 5 ]. Other studies showed different accuracy, specificity, and sensitivity results.…”

“…It has been proposed to report a low specificity percentage for malignant transformation [ 2 - 6 ]. In a cytopathologic study to diagnose adenoid cystic carcinoma of the parotid gland, the final biopsy revealed that FNA reported an accuracy of 90% [ 3 ]. Akhavan-Moghadam et al studied FNA results for head and neck masses and reported accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity to be 92.3%, 95%, and 85%, respectively [ 4 ].…”

High-grade transformation in adenoid cystic carcinoma: Can it be diagnosed on cytology? A cytohistological correlation

“…ADCC accounts for 14.5% of all salivary gland tumors and 41% of malignant tumors of the large and small salivary glands. [ 1 ] Fine-needle aspiration has been utilized for the evaluation of salivary gland lesions with high sensitivity and specificity. [ 2 ] This report highlights cytohistomorphological correlation in a case of metastatic high-grade transformation (HGT) of ADCC in a 52-year-old male patient presenting with cervical lymphadenopathy and an intraoral mass.…”