Mucinous adenocarcinoma of the parotid gland. Report of a case with fine needle aspiration findings and histologic correlation.
BACKGROUND
Mucinous adenocarcinoma rarely arises as a primary tumor within the parotid gland, and only the histologic features of this tumor have been described.


METHODS
A 4-cm, firm mass arose in the right parotid gland of a 72-year-old male over a six-week period. Cystic on computed tomography, the mass, on fine needle aspiration biopsy, yielded monomorphic, moderately atypical cells, both single and clustered, associated with abundant mucoid material and focal necrosis. Tumor cells had eccentric nuclei, prominent nucleoli and occasional cytoplasmic vacuolization. A few binucleated and multinucleated tumor cells were present. Histologic sections of the resected gland showed mucinous adenocarcinoma. A metastatic workup was negative. The differential diagnoses on cytology included other primary tumors of the parotid gland producing mucin or a mucoid matrix and metastatic mucinous adenocarcinomas.


CONCLUSIONS
To our knowledge, this is the first cytologic description of mucinous adenocarcinoma, primary in the parotid gland.
Tambouret
R H
RH
James Homer Wright Pathology Laboratories, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston 02114, USA.
Yantiss
R K
RK
Kirby
R
R
Eichhorn
J H
JH
D002288:Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D000368:Aged; D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000379:methods; D006651:Histocytochemistry / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009077:Mucins / Q000032:analysis; D010307:Parotid Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D009077:Mucins