Diagnostic difficulties in the interpretation of fine needle aspirates of salivary gland lesions: the problem revisited.
Cases of salivary gland lesions (n = 325), mainly neoplastic but including a small number of non-neoplastic lesions, investigated by fine needle aspiration (FNA) and with histological correlation, are reviewed. The review identified a number of differential diagnostic problems which are discussed in some detail. One false-positive and eight false-negative diagnoses had been made resulting in a 99.5% specificity and a 85.5% sensitivity. If type-specific diagnoses are made only when all defined diagnostic criteria are present and if any uncertainty is clearly conveyed to the clinician, FNA is a safe and accurate tool in the investigation of salivary gland lesions.
Orell
S R
SR
Department of Histopathology, Flinders Medical Centre, Adelaide, South Australia.
D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D012466:Salivary Gland Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D012468:Salivary Gland Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*