Diagnosis of pleomorphic adenoma in a heterotopic salivary gland: a case report.
BACKGROUND
The histologic diversity encountered in pleomorphic adenoma may cause diagnostic difficulty in fine needle aspiration cytology (FNA) due to limited and selective sampling.


METHODS
A 40-year-old woman presented with a mass in the anterior aspect of the neck along the sternocleidomastoid muscle. FNA revealed a cellular tumor with a chondrimyxoid background and epithelial cells intermingled with a few mesenchymal cells. The diagnosis of pleomorphic adenoma was confirmed on histopathology.


CONCLUSIONS
Primary ectopic pleomorphic adenoma can confidently be diagnosed by FNA. This technique is a useful tool in the initial assessment of the tumor.
Ashraf
Mohamad Javad
MJ
Department of Pathology, Shiraz Medical School, Shiraz, Iran.
Azarpira
Negar
N
Khademi
Bijan
B
D008949:Adenoma, Pleomorphic / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D000328:Adult; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D002828:Choristoma / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008648:Mesoderm / Q000473:pathology; D009333:Neck / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012468:Salivary Gland Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology