title: Fine-needle aspiration biopsy of salivary glands.
abstract: Between January 1, 1973, and December 31, 1988, the authors or their associates performed 552 fine-needle aspiration biopsies on patients with clinically significant masses of the salivary glands. All patients presented at the Medical College of Virginia Hospitals or Clinics of Virginia Commonwealth University; they were followed for periods ranging from 1 to 16 years. When available, the fine-needle aspiration diagnoses were correlated with histologic diagnoses and long-term patient outcomes. The sensitivity for a neoplasm was 93.3%; the specificity for the absence of a neoplasm was 99%. Diagnostic efficiency was 96.4%, and predictive value of a positive aspiration for a neoplasm was 98.3%. With fine-needle aspiration, surgical excision of salivary gland masses is often unnecessary. In patients with primary and metastatic neoplasms involving the salivary glands, fine-needle aspiration aids the surgeon in mapping the extent of the surgical procedure and in preoperatively preparing the patient. The procedure is cost-effective.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Medical College of Virginia, Richmond 23298.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Frable
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Frable
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012466:Salivary Gland Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D012468:Salivary Gland Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000473:pathology*