Since most of the major salivary glands can be felt, any mass lesion is amenable to a fine needle aspiration; a diagnosis can often be rendered by the pathologist, sparing the patient an invasive surgical procedure. Pleomorphic adenoma comprises around 50% of salivary gland tumors diagnosed by FNA; its stromal component that is gelatinuous, myxoid or chondroid can be easily recognized. In aspirates from adenoid cystic carcinomas spherical pinkish purple globules of large size can be identified by Giemsa stain. Warthin's tumor aspirates contain components of cell debris, some leukocytes and epithelial cells with abundant, finely granular cytoplasm in a lymphoid stroma. In mucoepidermoid carcinoma, loose clusters of squamous cells are admixed with mucus-producing cells. Acinic cell carcinoma elements demonstrate uniform and disorderly arranged nuclei.

Key words: Salivary glands, fine needle aspiration.

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