Salivary glands
Nonneoplastic tumors/tumor-like conditions
Nodular oncocytic hyperplasia
Author: Adriana Handra-Luca, M.D., Ph.D.
Last author update: 1 September 2012
Last staff update: 1 December 2021
Copyright: 2003-2024, PathologyOutlines.com, Inc.
PubMed Search: Nodular oncocytic hyperplasia
Table of Contents
Definition / general | Clinical features | Case reports | Microscopic (histologic) description | Microscopic (histologic) images | Cytology description | Cytology images | Electron microscopy description | Differential diagnosisCite this page: Handra-Luca A. Nodular oncocytic hyperplasia. PathologyOutlines.com website. https://www.pathologyoutlines.com/topic/salivaryglandsoncocytosis.html. Accessed April 19th, 2024.
Definition / general
- Either parotid cysts lined by oncocytes or well defined clusters of oncocytes (mm to cm)
- First reported by Schwartz (Cancer 1969;23:636)
- Also called multinodular oncocytoma, multifocal adenomatous oncocytic hyperplasia
Clinical features
- Benign, multifocal / nodular or diffuse proliferation of oncocytic cells, usually in parotid gland
- May be bilateral
Case reports
- 68 year old man with 6 cm parotid swelling (J Cytol 2012;29:80)
- 78 year old man (Laryngorhinootologie 2004;83:185)
Microscopic (histologic) description
- Either parotid cysts lined by oncocytes or well defined clusters of oncocytes (mm to cm)
- Oncocytes (oxyphilic cells) are large ductal epithelial cells with eosinophilic granular cytoplasm
Microscopic (histologic) images
Images hosted on other servers:
Parotid gland specimen
Cytology description
- Oncocytic cells
Cytology images
Images hosted on other servers:
Various images
Electron microscopy description
- Numerous mitochondria
Differential diagnosis
- Normal aging: increased oncocytes
- Oncocytoma: distinct mass
- Rhabdomyoma: may resemble at intraoperative frozen section; positive for skeletal muscle markers; different morphology on permanent section (Arch Pathol Lab Med 1983;107:638)
- Sialadenosis: may resemble diffuse oncocytosis (Laryngol Rhinol Otol (Stuttg) 1982;61:691)
- Warthin tumor: double layer of epithelial cells resting on dense lymphoid stroma with variable germinal centers
