A 35-year-old woman presents with a 2.5 cm slowly growing mass in the tail of the parotid gland. FNAC shows monotonous cells with basophilic granular cytoplasm arranged in a solid pattern. Which tumor is most likely?

• A Pleomorphic adenoma
• B Oncocytoma
• C Mucoepidermoid carcinoma
• D Acinic cell carcinoma ✓

Explanation

Acinic cell carcinoma is characterized cytologically by cells with abundant basophilic granular cytoplasm (resembling serous acinar cells) arranged in solid, microcystic, or follicular patterns. It is a low-grade malignant salivary gland tumor that commonly occurs in the parotid gland and can present in younger patients. Pleomorphic adenoma shows myxoid stroma with plasmacytoid cells, mucoepidermoid carcinoma shows a mix of mucous and epidermoid cells, and oncocytoma shows oncocytic cells with eosinophilic cytoplasm.

Reference: Robbins and Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease, 10th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.