Cytopathology of benign sebaceous salivary gland neoplasia: Comparison of two analogous yet dissimilar entities

• Published in: Cytopathology (Oxford) Vol. 34; no. 6; pp. 573 - 580
• Main Authors: Sheldon, Jesse D, Wakely, Jr, Paul E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.11.2023
• Subjects: Biopsy; Cell differentiation; Cytopathology; Epidemiology; Exocrine glands; Lymphocytes; Neoplasia; Salivary gland; Tumors; salivary gland; sebaceous lymphadenoma; fine needle; sebaceous adenoma
• ISSN: 0956-5507; 1365-2303
• DOI: 10.1111/cyt.13268

Benign sebaceous salivary gland (SG) neoplasms represent approximately 0.2% of all salivary gland neoplasms. Not only are fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy findings of sebaceous adenoma (SA) and sebaceous lymphadenoma (SLA) limited, but their findings are also rarely compared with one another. Our cytopathology files were searched for examples of benign sebaceous SG neoplasms with concomitant histopathological verification. FNA biopsy and cell collection were performed using standard technique. One case each of parotid SA and parotid SLA showed markedly dissimilar cytomorphology. The SA case was composed of a repetitive population of profusely multivacuolated polygonal cells with single and multiple nuclei, and was specifically recognised cytologically as a sebaceous neoplasm due to its characteristic cytoplasmic vacuolisation. The SLA case, however, was characterised by smears filled primarily with lymphocytes and only scant widely scattered basaloid cell clusters. A non-specific diagnosis of basaloid neoplasm was rendered. In retrospect, recognition of sebaceous differentiation was limited to rare cell groups. Though nominally, epidemiologically, and to a degree histopathologically analogous, the cytopathology of SA and SLA are markedly dissimilar, reflecting the dominant cell component in each. With FNA biopsy, a specific interpretation is more likely for SA than SLA due to the overwhelming obscuring lymphoid population in the latter.