Papillary-cystic variant of acinic cell carcinoma of the salivary gland diagnosed by fine needle aspiration biopsy. A case report.
BACKGROUND
Fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy is reliably used to classify most conditions involving the salivary glands. It is useful for establishing, or at least suggesting, the diagnosis in unusual cases or narrowing the differential diagnosis.


METHODS
A 25-year-old male presented with a slowly enlarging mass of the left parotid. FNA biopsy of the parotid gland was performed, and a diagnosis of papillary-cystic variant of acinic cell carcinoma was suggested. The patient underwent incomplete resection of the lesion, which was interpreted as acinic cell carcinoma.


CONCLUSIONS
Papillary-cystic variant of acinic cell carcinoma is rarely seen, especially in young people. FNA biopsy is a useful diagnostic procedure that can help diagnose this relatively uncommon type of salivary gland neoplasm and guide its management.
Sheyn
I
I
Departments of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and of Otolaryngology, University of Cincinnati Medical College, Christ Hospital of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio 45267-0529, USA.
Yassin
R
R
Seiden
A
A
Nestok
B R
BR
D000328:Adult; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D018267:Carcinoma, Acinar Cell / Q000473:pathology*; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000473:pathology; D003536:Cystadenocarcinoma / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012468:Salivary Gland Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*