Contribution of small tissue biopsy and flow cytometry to preoperative cytological categorization of salivary gland fine needle aspirates according to the Milan System: Single center experience on 287 cases

Background: Milan system for reporting salivary gland cytopathology (MSRSGC) was proposed to provide a standardized reporting system for salivary gland fine needle aspiration biopsies. Modified Menghini type semi-automatic aspiration biopsy needles provide small tissue fragments (STFs), as well as cellular smears, and immunohistochemical and molecular studies can be performed using the STFs. Aims: We aimed to evaluate the contribution of STFs and ancillary techniques to pre-operative diagnosis of salivary gland lesions. Materials and Methods: In this study, smears of 287 cases with histopathological correlation were re-reviewed and assigned to one of the MSRSGC categories. In the second step, histopathological and immunohistochemical findings in STFs were evaluated together with cytological findings. Final diagnoses were obtained with the inclusion of flow cytometry (FC) results when available. Risk of malignancy (ROM) was calculated for each diagnostic category. Results: In the evaluation based on smears, a specific diagnosis could be obtained in 64.8% of the cases. ROMs were 0% for nondiagnostic (ND), 5.6% for non-neoplastic (NN), 55% for atypia of undetermined significance (AUS), 0.6% for benign neoplasm (BN), 27.8% for salivary gland neoplasm of uncertain malignant potential (SUMP), and 100% for suspicious for malignancy (SFM) and malignant (M) categories. With the addition of histopathological and immunohistochemical findings and FC results, a specific diagnosis could be obtained in 75.2% of the cases. ROMs were 0% for ND, 4.5% for NN, 53.8% for AUS, 0.6% for BN, 0% for SUMP, and 100% for SFM/M categories. Conclusions: STFs contribute correct categorization of salivary gland lesions. The major contribution of ancillary methods is in the SUMP category.