Diagnostic Accuracy of Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology for Palatal Minor Salivary Gland Tumors Using Different Needle Materials

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Assistant Professor of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt.

2 Lecturer of Oral Pathology, Oral Pathology Department, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt.

3 Lecturer of Dental Biomaterials, Dental Biomaterials Department, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt

Abstract

Background: Fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) has been considered as an initial diagnostic tool for any swelling in major salivary glands and some minor salivary glands. It has been used by surgeons as a clinical tool to differentiate between benign and malignant tumors of the salivary glands. Superficial location of palatal minor salivary glands makes them most favorable target for FNAC. The surgical intervention is planned depending on the results of cytology.
Aims: To establish correlation between cytological and histopathological diagnoses of palatal salivary gland lesions and to examine accuracy of aspiration cytology as an early diagnostic aid using different needle materials (Cobalt Chromium and Stainless Steel).
Materials and Methods: Sixty patients presenting with palpable palatal lesions were included over a period from September 2015 to September 2017. FNAC was carried out for all cases and a correlation was conducted between clinical, cytological and histopathological outcomes. Patients were divided into two main groups (n = 30); in Group A, the aspiration was done using a Cobalt-Chromium “Co-Cr” needle, attached to a syringe, while in Group B, it was performed using
a stainless steel needle.
Results: The results of the FNAC specimens obtained from the 60 palatal lesions were correlated to their histopathological findings. FNAC results – supported by the histopathological investigations - revealed 45 pleomorphic adenomas, 5 mucoepidermoid carcinomas, 2 adenoid cystic carcinomas, 5 squamous cell carcinomas, 2 nonspecific inflammations and one case represented normal salivary gland tissue. With regard to complications of the fine needle aspiration procedure in this study, Co-Cr needles proved better biocompatibility and lower deformity in cells collected than Stainless steel needles.
Conclusions: FNAC proved that it can be a simple, reliable, rapid and safe tool for the preoperative diagnostic procedure for palatal salivary gland lesions. Co-Cr needles are superior to Stainless steel needles in FNAC because of its higher biocompatibility.

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