Salivary gland fine-needle aspiration biopsy: Quality assurance results from a tertiary cancer center Journal Article


Authors: Ratzon, F.; Feliciano, D. L.; Katabi, N.; Xu, B.; Lin, O.; Wei, X. J.
Article Title: Salivary gland fine-needle aspiration biopsy: Quality assurance results from a tertiary cancer center
Abstract: Introduction: Fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) plays a critical role in the management of patients with salivary gland lesions. A specific diagnosis can be difficult due to the wide range of lesions with overlapping morphologic features, potentially leading to interpretation errors. We analyzed the cytologic-histologic discrepancies identified in the quality assurance program of a major cancer center in cases of salivary gland FNAB and performed a root cause analysis. Materials and methods: Salivary gland FNAB specimens performed during a 12-year period at a major tertiary cancer center were reviewed. The inclusion criteria for this study included FNAB cases of salivary glands with subsequent histologic or flow cytometry follow up. The cytologic diagnoses for these cases were recategorized according to the Milan System for Reporting Salivary Gland Cytopathology (MSRSGC) based on the original reports. The risk of neoplasm and malignancy based on the cases with subsequent resection or flow cytometry and the most common causes of discrepancy were analyzed. Results: The risk of neoplasm ranged from 41% to 99% and the risk of malignancy ranged from 22% to 99% among the different MSRSGC categories. Lymphoid and myoepithelial rich lesions were the most common miscategorized lesions using the MSRSGC. Reactive changes due to inflammation were associated with overcalls. The most common malignancy in the atypical category was mucoepidermoid carcinomas. Conclusions: Myoepithelial and lymphoid rich lesions arising in the salivary gland are associated with a higher risk of misclassification. The use of category IVB in the MSRSGC is appropriate for lesions with abundant myoepithelial cells. Reactive atypia seen in sialadenitis was the most common feature associated with overcall. © 2023 American Society of Cytopathology
Keywords: cytology; pathology; quality assurance; biopsy, fine-needle; salivary gland; salivary gland tumor; carcinoma, mucoepidermoid; salivary gland neoplasms; salivary glands; fine needle aspiration biopsy; procedures; risk of malignancy; myoepithelial; mucoepidermoid tumor; humans; human
Journal Title: Journal of the American Society of Cytopathology
Volume: 12
Issue: 3
ISSN: 2213-2945
Publisher: American Society of Cytopathology  
Date Published: 2023-05-01
Start Page: 206
End Page: 215
Language: English
DOI: 10.1016/j.jasc.2023.01.001
PUBMED: 36792408
PROVIDER: scopus
PMCID: PMC10563449
DOI/URL:
Notes: Article -- MSK Cancer Center Support Grant (P30 CA008748) acknowledged in PDF and PubMed -- MSK corresponding author is Oscar Lin -- Export Date: 31 May 2023 -- Source: Scopus
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MSK Authors
  1. Xiao-Jun Wei
    14 Wei
  2. Oscar Lin
    310 Lin
  3. Nora Katabi
    306 Katabi
  4. Bin   Xu
    230 Xu
  5. Fanni Ratzon
    7 Ratzon
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