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Warthin's tumour: unusual vs. common morphological findings in fine needle aspiration biopsies

2002; Wiley; Volume: 13; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1046/j.1365-2303.2002.00415.x

1365-2303

Margareta Strojan Fležar, Ana Pogačnik,

Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology

Fine needle aspiration biopsies (FNA) of 47 Warthin's tumours confirmed by histology were re‐evaluated for cytomorphological findings. The majority of aspirates (37/47) contained a typical background with proteinaceous substance and cell debris, along with cellular elements represented by oncocytic, lymphoid, and mast cells with degranulated cytoplasm. Uncommon cellular findings were true squamous cells (1/47), atypical cells with vacuoles (1/47), osteoclastic giant cells (1/47), epithelioid cells (1/47), mast cells with preserved granules in cytoplasm (3/47), and siderophages (4/47). Uncommon findings in the background were corpora amylacea‐like structures and homogeneous bright red droplets. Squamous cells and atypical cells with vacuoles caused diagnostic difficulties in distinguishing a Warthin's tumour from a squamous cell or mucoepidermoid carcinoma. However, other unusual cellular and background findings were not worrying; therefore, they are merely regarded as a curiosity in the cytomorphological appearance of the tumour.