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Salivary Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy

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Abstract

Fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy is a useful diagnostic tool in the management of salivary gland pathology. FNA cytology for salivary disease can influence management decisions and inform counseling on therapeutic options. Compared to other forms of biopsy, FNA is simple, cost-effective, and safe while providing rapid information (Majewski et al. J Med Genet 48:580–589, 2011; Service Science 311:1544–1546, 2006). However, the large number of benign and malignant salivary tumors and inflammatory diseases with potential overlapping morphologies makes salivary cytology particularly challenging. There is a relative paucity of specific immunohistochemical stains and readily available molecular markers to accurately subtype salivary gland neoplasms. These factors can confound even experienced cytopathologists. Thus, both the imperfect accuracy of cytologic analysis and the confidence level of the pathologist need to be considered in the context of the clinical and imaging findings prior to any surgical intervention. This chapter explores the technique, utility, and limitations associated with FNA of salivary glands.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Head and Neck Oncologic, Endocrine and Salivary Surgery, Department of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA

    William R. Ryan M.D., F.A.C.S.

  2. Department of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA

    A. Sean Alemi M.D.

  3. Department of Pathology, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA

    Annemieke van Zante M.D., Ph.D.

Authors
  1. William R. Ryan M.D., F.A.C.S.
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  2. A. Sean Alemi M.D.
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  3. Annemieke van Zante M.D., Ph.D.
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to William R. Ryan M.D., F.A.C.S. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA

    M. Boyd Gillespie

  2. Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Louisiana State University, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

    Rohan R. Walvekar

  3. School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

    Barry M. Schaitkin

  4. Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA

    David W. Eisele

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Ryan, W.R., Sean Alemi, A., van Zante, A. (2018). Salivary Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy. In: Gillespie, M., Walvekar, R., Schaitkin, B., Eisele, D. (eds) Gland-Preserving Salivary Surgery. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-58335-8_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-58335-8_3

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-58333-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-58335-8

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