Diagnostic Accuracy of Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology in Pleomorphic Adenoma of Submandibular Gland

Objective: The study evaluated the usefulness and accuracy of fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) in the diagnosis of pleomorphic adenoma of the submandibular gland (SMG). Methods: From January 2006 to December 2012, 31 patients with SMG benign tumors were treated at Chonnam National University Hospital. Twenty nine cases involved preoperative FNAC. A retrospective chart review analyzed the results of FNAC and compared them with the corresponding histopathological diagnosis. Results: Preoperative FNAC diagnosed pleomorphic adenoma in 25 of the 29 patients. The remaining four patients were diagnosed with chronic sialadenitis (n = 2), suspicious of malignant tumor (n = 1) or unsatisfactory specimen (n = 1). All 29 patients underwent SMG tumor removal. FNAC had a diagnostic sensitivity of 85.7%, positive-predictive value of 96.0% and accuracy of 82.8% for diagnosing pleomorphic adenoma of SMG. Conclusion: Preoperative FNAC is a useful and accurate adjunct in the workup of pleomorphic adenoma of SMG. Preoperative FNAC should be part of the initial evaluation of submandibular masses.