Background: Salivary glands are subjected to a wide and heterogenous range of tumor like conditions as well as tumors, and fine needle aspiration (FNA) forms an inexpensive, easy, reliable diagnostic modality. Aims/Objectives: 1. To study series of salivary gland lesions on FNAC at our institute. 2. To assess age, gender and site wise distribution of salivary gland lesions. Materials and method: A 4 year study was conducted from January 2015 to December 2018. All the salivary gland lesion FNAC performed in the department of Pathology, SIMS, Shimoga during the study period were included in the study, with exclusion of cases where the aspirate was acellular or hemorrhagic. Corresponding biopsy specimens if available during the study period were reviewed. Results: 143 cases of salivary gland lesions were included in the study. Non-neoplastic lesions were 77 (53.84%) and neoplastic lesions were 66 (46.15%). Non-neoplastic lesions were further divided into 3 categories inflammatory (52 cases, 67.53%), sialadenosis (13cases, 16.88%) and cystic (12 cases, 15.58%). Benign neoplasms accounted for 58 cases (87.87%) and malignant neoplasms were 08 cases (12.12%). Commonest non-neoplastic lesion belonged to inflammatory category, i.e. chronic sialadenitis (29 cases, 55.76%). Commonest benign and malignant neoplasm was Pleomorphic adenoma (52 cases, 89.65%) and Mucoepidermoid carcinoma (04 cases, 50%) respectively. Conclusion: In the present study we have shown the variety of lesions associated with salivary glands, both non-neoplastic and neoplastic. With increasing incidence of these salivary gland lesions, fine needle aspiration cytology has emerged as an easy and economical diagnostic modality.

Keywords: Parotid; FNAC; Pleomorphic adenoma; Histopathology.