Sarcoidosis diagnosed on fine-needle aspiration cytology of salivary glands: a report of three cases.

Three female patients, two presenting with bilateral parotid gland enlargement and one with bilateral submandibular gland enlargement, were subjected to fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC). Smears showed noncaseating epithelioid cell granulomas with or without giant cells and salivary gland acini with varying degrees of degenerative changes. After excluding other granulomatous lesions, sarcoidosis was suggested and was subsequently proved in all three cases. FNAC, therefore, may be considered a useful diagnostic modality in cases of sarcoidosis presenting primarily with head and neck involvement.