Intravenous Pyogenic Granuloma Mimicking Pleomorphic Adenoma in a Fine Needle Aspirate

Intravenous pyogenic granuloma (IvPG) is a rare, benign lesion occurring usually as a subcutaneous mass in the neck or upper extremity. The cytologic features of IvPG have not been described before.A patient presented with a subcutaneous nodule on the lower border of the left parotid area. The clinical diagnosis was bronchial cleft cyst or lymphadenitis, and the fine needle aspiration diagnosis was pleomorphic adenoma. The tissue section, however, disclosed IvPG.Evaluation of subcutaneous nodules presenting cytologically as spindle cell lesions may be problematic, particularly in the neck and head region. Such lesions occurring in the parotid area may be interpreted as pleomorphic adenoma of the salivary gland.