title: Fine-needle aspiration biopsy of cervicofacial masses in children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To show the usefulness of fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) in the diagnosis of cervicofacial masses in children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case series.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pediatric otolaryngology referral center, ambulatory and hospitalized patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventeen pediatric (age, < 18 years) patients with cervicofacial masses.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fine-needle aspiration biopsy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cytologic diagnosis, resolution of mass, and need for further surgical diagnosis or treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Following FNAB, 10 patients underwent open surgery; in seven, the surgery was indicated based on FNAB diagnosis; in three, surgery provided diagnoses where FNAB was insufficient. Based on FNAB data, seven patients were observed without surgery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fine-needle aspiration biopsy is a useful early step in diagnosing cervicofacial masses in children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery, The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Tunkel
authors.forename: F M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Baroody
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Sherman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000465:Algorithms; D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003581:Cytodiagnosis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005145:Face / Q000473:pathology*; D005153:Facial Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007573:Jaw Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009333:Neck / Q000473:pathology*; D018461:Soft Tissue Infections / Q000473:pathology; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000473:pathology