Turkish Journal of Pathology

Türk Patoloji Dergisi

Turkish Journal of Pathology

Turkish Journal of Pathology

2010, Vol 26, Num, 2     (Pages: 153-155)

Amylase Crystalloids on Fine-Needle Aspiration of the Salivary Gland

İrem PAKER 1, Murat ANLAR 1, Nebiyye GENEL 1, Murat ALPER 1

1 Department of Pathology, M.H. Dışkapı Yıldırım Beyazıt Education and Research Hospital, ANKARA, TURKEY

DOI: 10.5146/tjpath.2010.01013
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Amylase crystalloids is one of the several types of crystalline structures that can be seen in non-neoplastic and neoplastic salivary gland lesions. Here, a 60-year-old woman with an infraauricular mass existing for two years is presented.

On ultrasound a cystic mass, 1 cm in diameter was detected in the tail of right parotid gland. Clear and mucoid fluid was obtained from the mass by fine-needle aspiration. Smears showed numerous rhomboid, rectangular or rod-shaped, non-birefringent crystalloid structures and a few acinar cell groups in a mucoid background rich in polymorphonuclear leucocytes and lymphoctes. It was reported as cystic sialadenitis with amylase crystalloids. In the four-month follow-up, there was no recurrence of the mass.

Since encountered only in benign salivary gland lesions in the literature as in our case, observation of amylase crystalloids on fine-needle aspiration smears indicates a benign lesion and avoids unnecessary surgery.

Keywords : Amylase crystalloids, Salivary gland, Cytology