Salivary carcinomas with papillae: Cytology and histology analysis of polymorphous low-grade adenocarcinoma and papillary cystadenocarcinoma

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

We retrospectively compared fine-needle samplings (FNS) from two recently individualized low-grade papillary salivary carcinomas, polymorphous low-grade adenocarcinoma (PLGAC) and papillary cystadenocarcinoma (PCAC), to define the cytologic criteria allowing the correct diagnosis. Twelve PLGACs in 10 patients and 5 PCACs in 4 patients were investigated by FNS preoperatively. In both entities, smears contained variable proportions of malignant cells, occasionally arranged in pseudopapillary formations. In contrast to PCAC, PLGAC showed stromal fragments and hyaline globules resembling pleomorphic adenoma or adenoid cystic carcinoma. Cytologic diagnoses of malignancy were established in 10 (83.3%) PLGACs and in 4 (80%) PCACs. Two (16.7%) PLGACs were misdiagnosed as pleomorphic adenoma, and 1 (20%) PCAC as a salivary cyst.