Significance of Cytological Diagnosis in Benign Salivary Gland Lesion

Abstract

A diffuse, chronic, non-inflammatory, non-neoplastic usually bilateral, enlargement of major salivary glands is termed as Sialadenosis or sialosis. It is an uncommon cause for enlargement of the parotid gland. We here by describe two patients with history of unilateral painless swelling of parotid glands. Fine-Needle Aspiration (FNA) specimens showed highly cellular smears comprising of clusters of enlarged acini and numerous naked nuclei. A diagnosis consistent with sialadenosis was made. It is important to recognise this underestimated entity cytologically in the work-up of salivary gland swellings to avoid the unnecessarily surgical intervention.

Keywords

• fine needle aspiration
• parotid gland
• sialadenosis