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Cytomorphology of adenocarcinoma of lung presenting as submandibular salivary gland mass: Report of a case diagnosed by fine‐needle aspiration biopsy
Author(s) -
Saleh Husain A.,
Marks Steven,
Khatib Ghada
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
diagnostic cytopathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.417
H-Index - 65
eISSN - 1097-0339
pISSN - 8755-1039
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-0339(199711)17:5<374::aid-dc11>3.0.co;2-k
Subject(s) - medicine , malignancy , adenocarcinoma , fine needle aspiration , biopsy , pathology , lung , carcinoma , salivary gland , pleural effusion , metastatic carcinoma , cytopathology , adenocarcinoma of the lung , cytology , radiology , cancer
Background Primary malignant neoplasms of the submandibular salivary gland (SMG) are rare, and metastatic tumors are rarer. Most of the metastases are discovered months or years after the diagnosis of the primary malignancy. Despite the increasingly used fine‐needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) in the evaluation of major salivary gland masses, diagnosis of metastases by FNAB has been only rarely studied. Purpose We report a case of lung carcinoma initially presented as a SMG swelling diagnosed by aspiration biopsy. The patient is a 52‐yr‐old man, a 40‐pack/year smoker who also complained of weight loss and blood‐streaked cough. An FNAB of the mass was consistent with metastatic adenocarcinoma with prominent signet ring–cell component of unknown primary. Subsequent studies revealed a left lung mass and left pleural effusion. The effusion cytologic examination showed malignant cells consistent with carcinoma. The patient's condition deteriorated rapidly, and he died within a few days. An autopsy revealed adenocarcinoma of lung with prominent signet ring–cell component. Conclusion FNAB is a rapid, safe, reliable, and cost‐efficient technique for evaluation of major salivary glands lesions. To our knowledge, this case is the first lung carcinoma presenting as SMG mass initially diagnosed on FNAB. Diagn. Cytopathol. 1997; 17:374–378. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.