Role of Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology in the Evaluation and Diagnosis of Salivary Gland Lesions: A Retrospective Study at a Tertiary Care Centre in Rajkot, Gujarat, India

Background: Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) is an easy cyto-diagnostic method based on morphologic features of individual and group of cells aspirated using fine needle. It is very simple, quick, cost effective and minimally invasive technique used to diagnose different type of swellings in lymph nodes, thyroid gland, soft tissues, salivary glands and various other body organs.

Aim and Objective: To evaluate role and utility of FNAC in diagnosis of salivary gland lesions.

Materials & methodology: This study involved 150 cases of parotid and submandibular swellings of patients who underwent FNAC at P.D.U. Medical College & Hospital, Rajkot, Gujarat within the duration of three years from January 2022 to December 2024. FNAC procedure was performed and smears were stained with Hematoxylin & Eosin stain (H & E) and May- Grunwald Giemsa (MGG) stain. The results of FNAC were compared with the histopathological findings wherever possible and accuracy of diagnosis were determined.

Results: Mean age of patients were between 40 to 50 years and male to female ratio was 1.67:1 for salivary gland lesions. Out of the total 150 lesions, 99(66%) lesions were found to be Neoplastic of which 90(60%) were benign and 9(6%) were malignant. Rest 51(34%) were non neoplastic. Acute & Chronic Sialadenitis 38(25.3%) was the most common non-neoplastic lesion. Pleomorphic adenoma 64(42.7%) was the most common benign neoplasm and mucoepidermoid carcinoma 4(2.67%) was most common malignant neoplasm. Parotid gland was the most common site involved amongst all the salivary glands.

Conclusion: We found that a good and thorough knowledge of morphology and pathology of salivary gland lesions helps in the diagnosis, typing and staging, formulating treatment plan as well as prediction of prognosis of salivary tumours.