Accuracy of fine needle aspiration biopsy in head and neck tumors.
OBJECTIVE
Fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) is frequently used in the diagnosis of lesions occurring in the head and neck region. This study evaluated the correlation between the findings on FNAB and the histological findings observed after surgery.


METHODS
A review of 218 patients who underwent FNAB of a head or neck tumor was performed. Cytological reports were classified into the following diagnostic categories: negative or positive for malignant cells and unsatisfactory. False-positive, false-negative, true-positive (sensitivity), and true-negative (specificity) rates were calculated.


RESULTS
Twelve specimens did not allow an adequate diagnosis (5.5%). Among benign tumors, 96.2% of the cases were correctly diagnosed, and 3.8% were nondiagnostic specimens. Among malignant tumors, 86.4% of cases were correctly identified. There were two (3.4%) false-negatives and six (10.2%) nondiagnostic specimens, with a total false-negative rate of 13.6%.


CONCLUSIONS
Sampling errors present a minor problem with FNAB. Most nondiagnostic or incorrect specimens were caused by nonhomogenous lesions, with poor placement of the needle and an insufficient amount of aspirated material. FNAB is a useful modality for the diagnosis of head and neck masses.
Fulciniti
F
F
Faculty of Medicine and Surgery Federico II University of Naples, Italy.
Califano
L
L
Zupi
A
A
Vetrani
A
A
D000235:Adenolymphoma / Q000473:pathology; D008949:Adenoma, Pleomorphic / Q000473:pathology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003560:Cysts / Q000473:pathology; D003581:Cytodiagnosis; D003949:Diagnostic Techniques, Surgical; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012468:Salivary Gland Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012793:Sialadenitis / Q000473:pathology; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology