Aspiration Biopsy of Salivary Gland Tumours: I. Correlation of Cytologic Reports from 652 Aspiration Biopsies with Clinical and Histologic Findings

Abstract

Critical analysis of cytologic reports from aspiration biopsy of salivary glands in 652 cases showed that positive diagnosis had been made in 92 per cent of the cases with tumour. In 8 per cent of cases the cytologic method can be expected to give false negative reports concerning tumour. The possibility of false positive tumour diagnosis can be disregarded, however, if the cytologist is fully familiar with the morphology of salivary gland cells in various pathologic conditions. Recognition of the malignancy of salivary gland tumours by cytologic technique is discussed and also the possible risk of local or distant spread of tumour following aspiration biopsy.