Tubercular infection of the parotid gland often confuses clinicians, it being a rare entity even in an endemic area. Its similarity in presentation with that of parotid neoplasms, nonspecific symptoms, low incidence and non-contributory radiological findings often leads to its misdiagnosis as parotid neoplasm, which in the due course results in parotidectomy. Therefore, FNAC of parotid swelling is helpful to avoid unnecessary surgery and patient discomfort. We report four cases of FNAC of parotid swelling with suspicion of neoplasm/inflammatory lesion and were diagnosed as tuberculosis of the parotid gland. They were advised antitubercular drugs for 6 months and followed up. These case are reported not just to highlight that parotid is a rare site for tuberculosis, but also to ascertain that FNAC can be an easy and fast diagnostic modality for confirmation of tubercular parotitis rather than going through the long way of resection and confirmation on histopathology.

中文翻译：

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细胞学作为诊断腮腺结核的快速工具：一个病例系列与文献回顾

腮腺的结核感染常常使临床医生感到困惑，即使在流行区也很少见。其表现与腮腺肿瘤相似，症状无特异性，发病率低且放射学检查无贡献，常导致其误诊为腮腺肿瘤，并在适当的时候导致腮腺切除术。因此，腮腺肿胀的FNAC有助于避免不必要的手术和患者不适。我们报告了 4 例 FNAC 腮腺肿胀疑似肿瘤/炎性病变，并被诊断为腮腺结核。建议他们服用抗结核药物 6 个月并进行随访。报道这些病例不仅是为了强调腮腺是结核病的罕见部位，