점액표피양 암종의 세침흡인 세포학적 소견

Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology of Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma of the Salivary Gland

Mucoepidermoid carcinoma is the most common malignant neoplasm of the salivary gland, compring between 30 and 40%. Fine needle apsiration cytology was performed in five patients with mucoepidermoid carcinoma. The patients consisted of three males aged of 42, 48, and 60 years, and two females aged 36, and 56 years. The primary tumor sites were the parotid gland in four patients and the submandibular gland in the rest one. The histologic grades were low in one patient, intermediate in two patients and high in other two. In our experience, the common cytologic findings of low grade subtype were predominent mucous cells with some intermediate cells in an abundant mucinous background. The cytologic findings of intermediate grade subtype were predominant clusters of intermediate cells with or without mucous cells in an abundant mucinous background. And the cytologic findings of high grade subtype were predominant clusters of epidermoid cells with intermediate cells in a bloody background. Cytologic pleomorphism and atypia were more severe in high grade than low and intermediate grade, and nucleoli were more frequently noted in epidermoid cells. In low grade, it is very difficult to decide the benignancy or malignancy of the tumor. In fact, the presence of mucous cells in a mucinous background should rule out any other type of well differentiated carcinoma.