Journal of the Formosan Medical Association
Volume 107, Issue 5 , Pages 364-370, May 2008

Analysis of Fine-needle Aspiration Cytology of the Salivary Gland

  • I-Shiow Jan

      Affiliations

    • Department of Laboratory Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Ping-Fung Chung

      Affiliations

    • Department of Laboratory Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Ming-Hsiang Weng

      Affiliations

    • Department of Laboratory Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Min-Se Huang

      Affiliations

    • Department of Laboratory Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Ya-Ting Lee

      Affiliations

    • Department of Laboratory Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Tsu-Yao Cheng

      Affiliations

    • Department of Laboratory Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Jenq-Yuh Ko

      Affiliations

    • Department of Otolaryngology, National Taiwan University Hospital, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Sow-Hsong Kuo

      Affiliations

    • Department of Laboratory Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
    • Department of Clinical Pathology, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorrespondence to: Dr Sow-Hsong Kuo, Department of Laboratory Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, 7 Chung-Shan South Road, Taipei 100, Taiwan

Received 7 December 2007; received in revised form 28 December 2007; accepted 15 January 2008.

Background/Purpose

Fine needle aspiration (FNA) cytology has been widely accepted as a safe method for diagnosis of salivary gland lesions. This study investigated the accuracy of FNA cytology of salivary gland lesions by correlation between histology and cytology.

Methods

One hundred and thirty-one archived salivary gland FNA specimens collected between January 1994 and December 2002 from 131 patients were correlated with histopathology findings. The major reasons for false-negative and false-positive results in cytologic diagnosis were determined.

Results

Considering the results of histopathology as the diagnostic standard, the sensitivity of FNA cytology in diagnosing malignancy was 74% (17/23) after excluding two cases which had a cytodiagnosis of suspicion of malignancy. Excluding eight cases that had a cytodiagnosis of suspicion of malignancy, the diagnostic specificity was 99% (97/98). There were six false-negative and one false-positive cases.

Conclusion

This study demonstrated that FNA cytology of the salivary gland is a useful technique for diagnosis of salivary gland lesions. Inadequate labeling of the aspiration sites and insufficient cellularity were the most important factors that resulted in incorrect cytologic interpretation.

Key Words:  cytopathology , fine-needle aspiration , salivary gland

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PII: S0929-6646(08)60101-1

doi:10.1016/S0929-6646(08)60101-1

Journal of the Formosan Medical Association
Volume 107, Issue 5 , Pages 364-370, May 2008

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