Salivary Glands

Abstract

Salivary gland tumors are known for their many entities and wide histopathologic spectrum even within any single tumor type. The accurate classification of these entities can be difficult on permanent section, let alone frozen section. Thus, accurate classification of salivary gland tumors on frozen section is not the aim for the intraoperative consultation. Our goal should be to perform an intraoperative consultation for the surgeon that provides enough information to guide the surgical procedure. Understanding the surgical implications of a diagnosis is essential and can make stressful frozen sections less of a struggle. For example, if we appreciate a tumor with an infiltrating border and marked cytologic atypia composed of both squamoid and glandular formations, we may not need to specifically distinguish adenosquamous carcinoma from mucoepidermoid carcinoma, since this distinction will not change the extent of the operational procedure. With this approach, frozen section diagnoses of salivary gland lesions are largely reliable with high sensitivity and specificity, as evidenced by our own experience as well as published data in the literature.