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Head and Neck Pathology
Published in: Head and Neck Pathology 4/2018

01-12-2018 | Invited Review

Diagnostic Approach to Fine Needle Aspirations of Cystic Lesions of the Salivary Gland

Authors: Liron Pantanowitz, Lester D. R. Thompson, Esther Diana Rossi

Published in: Head and Neck Pathology | Issue 4/2018

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Abstract

Fine needle aspiration (FNA) has diagnostic and therapeutic value in the management of salivary gland cysts. Rendering an accurate diagnosis from an aspirated salivary gland cyst is challenging because of the broad differential diagnosis, possibility of sampling error, frequent hypocellularity of specimens, morphologic heterogeneity, and overlapping cytomorphology of many cystic entities. To date, there have been no comprehensive review articles providing a practical diagnostic approach to FNA of cystic lesions of salivary glands. This article reviews the cytopathology of salivary gland cysts employing 2017 World Health Organization terminology, addresses the accuracy of FNA, and presents The Milan System approach for reporting in cystic salivary gland cases. The utility of separating FNA specimens from salivary gland cysts, based upon the presence of mucin and admixed lymphocytes in cyst fluid is demonstrated. A reliable approach to interpreting FNA specimens from patients with cystic salivary gland lesions is essential to accurately determine which of these patients may require subsequent surgery.
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Metadata
Title
Diagnostic Approach to Fine Needle Aspirations of Cystic Lesions of the Salivary Gland
Authors
Liron Pantanowitz
Lester D. R. Thompson
Esther Diana Rossi
Publication date
01-12-2018
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Head and Neck Pathology / Issue 4/2018
Electronic ISSN: 1936-0568
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12105-018-0904-8

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