1999 Volume 38 Issue 6 Pages 497-503
Objective: Mucoepidermoid carcinoma is comprised of variable numbers of mucous cells, intermediate cells, squamous and clear cells. Their cytological characteristics of most of these cell types have been described, but those of the intermediate cells remain controversial. We observed the growth arrangements of tumor cells in resected specimens, and compared them to the findings of imprint cytologic smears. Cytologic findings of mucous cells, intermediate and squamous cells as well as the overall appearance were examined using the imprint cytologic procedure.
Study Design: Between 1996 and 1998, 4 patients with mucoepidermoid carcinoma arising from the parotid gland were studied. All of the imprint cytologic smears were stained with Papanicolaou stain, Giemsa stain, Periodic acid Schiff (PAS) stain and Alcian blue stain.
Result: In tumors with mucous cell nests or squamous cell nests, a different distribution was observed for each case. Therefore, imprint cytologic smears did not clearly correspond to the findings of resected specimens. Cytologic classification of all 6 cell types (Mu-1, Mu-2, In-1, In-2, Sq-1 and Sq-2) is necessary to diagnose mucoepidermoid carcinoma correctly. In overall organization intermediate cells (In-1, 2) appeared in the center of the tumor.
Conclusion: To diagnose mucoepidermoid carcinoma, the cytologic characteristics of mucous cells, intermediate and squamous cells must be understood. These cells show cytologic features with slight differences that are important to confirm In-1 and In-2.
