Focal adenomatoid hyperplasia of salivary glands. A differential diagnostic problem in fine needle aspiration biopsy

Adenomatoid hyperplasia of minor salivary glands is an idiopathic lesion usually involving the palate and mimicking a primary salivary gland neoplasm. In particular, the lesions may resemble low-grade mucoepidermoid tumors clinically and by fine needle aspiration (FNA) cytology. An illustrative case is presented, and the nature of this unusual entity is reviewed. Its importance in the differential diagnosis of FNA biopsies of minor salivary gland lesions is also discussed.