Diagnostic Challenges in the Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy of Chronic Sclerosing Sialadenitis (Küttner’s Tumor) in the Context of Head and Neck Malignancy: A Series of 4 Cases

Chronic sclerosing sialadenitis (CSS) is a benign chronic inflammatory condition of the salivary gland. Clinically, CSS patients may present with a neck mass, often suggesting a neoplastic process. Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) is frequently used to evaluate these lesions. We present a series of 4 patients with CSS, in whom all but one had history of squamous cell carcinoma. The previous diagnosis of malignancy appeared to influence the interpretation of the cytologic preparations. Four patients who had undergone resection of a neck nodule that eventually was diagnosed as CSS were identified. FNA was performed in all 4 cases, and the final cytologic diagnosis in these cases included squamous cell carcinoma, basaloid neoplasm, and salivary gland neoplasm. During intraoperative consultation, the lesions were identified as benign, atrophic salivary gland with chronic inflammation, or sialadenitis with atypical glands. All resected specimens were submitted for histopathological examination and were considered diagnostic for CSS. CSS is a potential pitfall in the FNA interpretation of salivary gland lesions, especially if there is a previous history of head and neck malignancy. Awareness of this entity, adherence to strict cytologic criteria, and careful clinicopathologic correlation are helpful in preventing misinterpretation and unnecessary surgical intervention.