Abstract
Background: We report a very rare case with a granular cell tumor (GCT) of the parotid gland. Fine needle aspiration (FNA) revealed a fine granular cytoplasm and suggested the presence of an oncocytic tumor. However, histological and immunohistochemical examination confirmed the tumor to be a GCT.
Case: A 66-year-old woman had a 1.5cm lesion in her left parotid gland. FNA revealed (1) irregularly arranged and distributed tumor cells, (2) poor cell cohesion and fragile cytoplasm, (3) ill-defined cell margins, (4) eccentric and round to oval nuclei showing mild anisokaryosis, and (5) an abundancy of fine granular cytoplasm.
Conclusion: GCTs may occur in the parotid gland, as in the present case. GCTs have certain cytological characteristics that enable an accurate diagnosis by FNA.
