Fatma Fulya KÖYBAŞIOĞLU, Ahmet ŞAHPAZ, Binnur ÖNAL, Ayşegül ADABAĞ, Ünsal HAN

Cytomorphological findings in diagnosis of Warthin tumor

Background/aim: To define the cytomorphologic findings leading to difficulties in diagnosis of Warthin tumors (WTs).Materials and methods: Forty-eight histopathologically diagnosed WT patients who had fine needle aspiration cytology preoperativelywere reevaluated for defining the presence or absence of lymphocytes, oncocytic cell layer, oncocytic cell papillae, granular debrisbackground, mucoid background, macrophages, polymorphonuclear cells, mast cells, squamous-like cells, atypical vacuolatedcytoplasmic cells, and giant cells.Results: Forty-seven tumors were in the parotid gland and one in the submandibular gland. There were 37 (77%) male and 11 (23%)female patients. Cytopathologically in 36 patients the diagnosis was benign neoplasm (WT); in 6, other benign entities; and in 6,suspicious for malignancy. The main characteristic cytomorphologic features of WTs were as follows: 92% lymphoid cells, 83% oncocyticcell layers, and 67% granular debris background. These percentages were 67%, 17%, and 17% in the benign cytology group and 67%,50%, and 17% in the suspicious for malignancy group, respectively.Conclusion: Absence or lack of main features of WTs with or without presence of squamous-like cells, vacuolated cytoplasmic cells,and inflammatory reaction may cause diagnostic dilemma. The presence of the mast cells accompanied by epithelial tissue was strikingfor WT diagnosis.

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