Diagnostic accuracy of FNA cytology for diagnosis of salivary gland tumors in pediatric patients

Background: Salivary gland tumors are rare in pediatric patients and include both benign and malignant types. Although fine-needle aspiration cytology is widely used to diagnose salivary gland tumors in adults, such diagnostic techniques in pediatric patients are still poorly applied and studied. Nevertheless, a preoperative diagnostic definition of salivary gland lesions is highly recommended to plan a correct surgical management and to avoid over-treatment of inflammatory or reactive lesions. Methods: The authors performed a retrospective analysis on a series of salivary gland lesions—both neoplastic and non-neoplastic—in pediatric patients who underwent fine-needle aspiration. When obtainable, the corresponding histological diagnoses were retrieved. The authors calculated the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of fine-needle aspiration in this clinical setting and evaluated the diagnostic agreement between cytology and histology. Results: The series included 34 cases of salivary gland lesions in patients aged