ONCOCYTIC AND ONCOCYTOID TUMORS OF THE SALIVARY GLANDS

Histochemistry and electron microscopy have now enabled investigators to define precisely the oncocyte of salivary tissue. By these techniques, all oncocytes are characterized by a rich complement of mitochondria and most often by high oxidative enzyme activity. The routine light microscopic appearance of oncocyte, i.e., swollen and eosinophilic, is in large part due to its increased mitochondrial content but is non-specific and may be simulated by other cytoplasmic components such as endoplasmic reticulum, lysosomal bodies, secretory granules and other cell organelles. The term, oncocytoid, should be used for cells not fulfilling minimal his-tochemical requirements for the oncocyte.