The effectiveness of combined use of liquid based cytology and conventional methods in diagnosis of Warthin tumor

Abstract

Objective : The aim of this study was to examine the effectiveness of combined use of liquid based cytology (LBC) and conventional cytology (conventional) in fine-needle aspiration biopsy of Warthin’s tumors.
Study Design : We investigated 28 specimens of Warthin’s tumor using paired conventional cytology and LBC preparations. The conventional cytology and LBC preparations were compared in relation to the following : 1) number of cases with oncocytic cells and cytological findings, 2) number of oncocytic cells and clusters, and 3) the background material.
Results : Oncocytic cells were observed in both LBC and conventional cytology preparations in 20 cases (71.4%), and in the LBC preparation alone in 6 cases (21.4%). In terms of the cytological findings of the oncocytic cells, in the LBC preparation, the tumor cells showed granular cytoplasm, with nuclear pyknosis and prominent nucleoli. There was a significant difference between LBC and conventional cytology in the number of high columnar oncocytic cells or oncocytic cell clusters (p<0.05). The background material was decreased, and degeneration of the lymphocytes was observed in the LBC preparation.
Conclusion : In the diagnosis of Warthin’s tumor, an adequate number of oncocytic cells is clearly obtainable by LBC. The LBC method is considered to be useful for qualitative diagnosis of salivary gland tumors showing cystic changes.