Oncocytoma of parotid gland: A rare case report

Oncocytomas are benign salivary gland tumors composed of oncocytes, cuboidal to columnar epithelial cells with abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm secondary to the accumulation of excessive number of mitochondria. In 1894, the German pathologist Hurthle first described these granular cells in normal canine thyroid glands, while the term "Oncocyte" was coined by Hamperl in 1931. Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) has increasingly been used as a primary screening tool for salivary gland lesions with high levels of sensitivity and specificity. However, caution should be exercised when interpreting aspirates with predominant oncocytic population. Final diagnosis is assisted by CT and/or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the neck and histopathologic examination.