Parotid Cyst amylase crystals 1

Filter preparation of parotid cyst fluid stained with Papanicolaou Fine needle biopsy is frequently the first step in diagnosis of swellings in the salivary gland. Sometimes these swelling consist of collections of fluid (cysts) and rarely the enzyme amylase, a normal constituent of saliva, crystalizes in the fluid. Swellings associated with amylase crystal rich fluid are usually due to inflammation (sialadenitis) and do not require surgery. Amylase crystals, as seen in this image, stain yellow-orange on Papanicolaou stain, are non-birefringent, and exhibit a variety of shapes including rectangles, rhomboids and pointed "needles". Careful observation at high power shows that the larger crystals are formed of stacks of plate-like crystals of the same shape. Image width 215 microns