Hydatid cyst of parotid: Report of unusual cytological findings extending the cytomorphological spectrum

Abstract

Hydatid disease is a zoonotic infestation caused by larval cestode of genus Echinococcus. Cystic form of this infection mostly involves liver and lung. Hydatid disease of the parotid gland is very rare even in endemic areas and is often clinically mistaken for parotid tumors or cysts. The presence of protoscolices, laminated membranes, and isolated hooklets are characteristic cytological features observed on fine-needle aspirate from hydatid cysts. We report unusual cytological features from a hydatid cyst of parotid in a 13-year-old girl. She presented with a slowly enlarging hard mass in left parotid. Fine-needle aspiration yielded slightly turbid fluid. Smears from the sediment revealed naked parasitic micronuclei, fragments of germinative layer (endocyst), and abortive brood capsules (buds from endocyst) seen as spherical structures with multiple parasitic nuclei. Some of these spherical structures were degenerated with recognizable nuclei and others were completely necrotic. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2016;44:770-773. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Diagnostic Approach to Fine Needle Aspirations of Cystic Lesions of the Salivary Gland

“…Non-neoplastic cystic salivary gland lesions can be divided into true cysts (e.g., lymphoepithelial cyst) and non-developmental cysts (e.g., retention cyst) [4]. Occasionally, one may also encounter more rare cystic lesions in the salivary gland such as an epidermoid cyst [5], keratocystoma [6], odontogenic keratocyst [7], and primary hydatid cyst in endemic regions [8]. Salivary gland cysts can typically be identified by ultrasound.…”

Hydatid Cysts of Parotid Glands- Diagnosis, Treatment and Recurrences

“…Hydatidosis of salivary glands is rare and uncommon disease but must be included in differential diagnosis of cystic swelling of salivary glands especially those with history of hepatic hydatid cysts. The published literatures show case reports and mostly involve the parotid gland [3,4,5,6].…”

“…The diagnosis of parotid hydatid cyst necessitates imaging ultrasound and preferably computerized tomography (CT). Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAc) is controversial in suspected cases of parotid hydatid cysts [5,6].…”