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Oncocytic carcinoma

This is a rare tumour composed typically of sheets and single cells with characteristics of oncocytes. Cells have eccentric nuclei, prominent central nucleolus and abundant well-defined.cytoplasm. This is finely granular, mauve (MGG) or blue-green (Papanicolaou). Nuclear pleomorphism is mild. Narrow intercellular spaces may be present, giving cells a squamoid appearance. The background is clean and contains no lymphocytes or necrotic material.

Correct cytological diagnosis may be difficult since oncocytes can be seen in other neoplastic and non-neoplastic conditions of the salivary gland. Cells display very little pleomorphis and the diagnosis of malignancy may be difficult.