title: Collagenous crystalloids in a fine needle aspirate of a pleomorphic adenoma of the minor salivary gland. A case report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Collagenous crystalloids were previously observed in histologic sections of pleomorphic adenoma. However, to the best of our knowledge, there have been no English-language reports dealing with collagenous crystalloids in fine needle aspirates.
  
  
  METHODS
  A fine needle aspiration specimen obtained from a mass in the hard palate of a 52-year-old female revealed collagenous crystalloids. The crystalloids were yellow to green, measured 30-50 microns in diameter and were radially arranged.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This case indicates that collagenous crystalloids in salivary gland aspirates may be a clue to the diagnosis of pleomorphic adenoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, West Japan Pathology Laboratory, Kurashiki, Japan.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sugihara
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hirokawa
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shimizu
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Manabe
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kanahara
mesh_terms: D008949:Adenoma, Pleomorphic / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology*; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D003094:Collagen / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000473:pathology; D012468:Salivary Gland Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology*; D012470:Salivary Glands, Minor / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D003094:Collagen