title: Myoepithelioma of the salivary glands. Fine needle aspiration biopsy findings.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the cytologic findings and pitfalls in the diagnosis of myoepithelioma of the salivary glands.
  
  
  METHODS
  Smears from 7 cases of myoepithelioma of the salivary glands, 3 plasmacytoid, 2 spindle and 2 mixed types, all histologically confirmed, were evaluated with special attention to cytologic features that may be helpful for the diagnosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A correct cytologic diagnosis was not made in any of the cases. Three were diagnosed as plasmacytomas or cellular pleomorphic adenomas, 2 as benign spindle cell tumors and 2 as cellular pleomorphic adenomas. Mitoses and marked pleomorphism were absent. Nuclear striations were noted frequently.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Diagnosis of myoepithelioma was difficult on fine needle aspiration smears. Nuclear striations (zebra lines) were noted in 5 cases. This finding is not reported in previously published papers.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Pathology and Otolaryngology, Shiraz Medical School, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Perikala V
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Seyed Ali
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Sobhani
authors.forename: Ahmad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Monabati
authors.forename: Seyed Baseer
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Hashemi
authors.forename: Fardin
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Eghtadari
authors.forename: Seyed Afshin
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Hamidi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D003581:Cytodiagnosis; D003951:Diagnostic Errors / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009208:Myoepithelioma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology*; D010157:Palatal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D010307:Parotid Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D012468:Salivary Gland Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology*; D013362:Sublingual Gland Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D013365:Submandibular Gland Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology