How important are the cytomorphologic subtypes of the salivary gland neoplasm of uncertain malignant potential (SUMP) category in the Milan system for reporting salivary gland cytology? An institutional experience 2018–2024

Abstract

IntroductionSalivary gland neoplasm of uncertain malignant potential (SUMP) is an important diagnostic category of the Milan System for reporting salivary gland cytology (MSRSGC). Further subcategorization by cytomorphologic subtypes has been recommended to risk‐stratify cases. In this study, our institutional experience with the risk of neoplasm (RON) and risk of malignancy (ROM) based on cytomorphologic subcategorization of SUMP is reported. We also report the prevalence of malignancy (POM) at our institution.MethodsThe pathology database was queried for cases of fine‐needle aspiration (FNA) diagnosed as SUMP along with follow‐up at our institution from 2018–February 2024. This study was approved by an institutional review board.ResultsOf 1159 cases of salivary gland FNA specimens reported as per MSRSGC at our institution, 14.8% (171/1159 cases) were diagnosed as SUMP, with these reports verified by at least 16 cytopathologists. Surgical follow‐up was available for 139/171 (81.3%) of these cases, for which the original cytomorphologic subgroups were as follows: 65 (46.8%) basaloid, 48 (34.5%) oncocytic/oncocytoid, 14 (10.1%) myoepithelial, 9 (6.5%) other, 2 (1.4%) clear cell, and 1 (0.7%) mucinous. The POM within SUMP at our institution is within a range of 29.8%–36.7%. When considering all cases, our institutional RON for SUMP was 97.8% (136/139), and the ROM was 36.7% (51/139). Notably, a significant portion of cases (36%, 50/139) underwent review at a daily intradepartmental consensus conference. Analysis revealed that SUMP cases that underwent consensus review had a ROM of 46% (23/50), versus 31.5% (28/89) in independently verified cases (p = .13). Of the cytomorphologic subgroups, basaloid SUMP in particular was more likely to be benign on resection when the case had been independently verified than after consensus review (p = .0082). When considering only the independently verified cases, the ROM for each subgroup was as follows: 38.7% (12/31) in oncocytic/oncocytoid, 20% (9/45) in basaloid, 33.3% (2/6) in myoepithelial, 60% (3/5) in “other”, and 100% (1/1) in both mucinous and clear cell (p = .0407).ConclusionWhile the RON is high across all cytomorphologic subgroups of SUMP, the ROM does vary across the groups, with basaloid cytomorphology having the lowest ROM. This effect is seen in independently verified cases but not in cases having undergone consensus review.