Fine-needle aspiration: survey of clinical utility.
OBJECTIVE
The goal was to determine the features of clinical usage of fine-needle aspiration (FNA) in this country in terms of utilization, indications, and practice and demographic characteristics of those who use FNA.


METHODS
A survey was mailed to otolaryngologist-head and neck surgeons (OTO-HNSs) in the United States. The results were totaled and analyzed for indications for FNA performance, practice setting, age, and geographic location of practitioners.


RESULTS
The most common indications for use of FNA were in the diagnoses of neck, thyroid, salivary, and other masses in the head and neck. In the survey group the average number of FNAs performed per month was 4.7 per respondent practitioner. FNA was statistically related to age (older physicians performed it less) and region of the country. FNAs are performed at a lower rate in the West.


CONCLUSIONS
FNA is a commonly performed procedure. Certain groups of OTO-HNSs (older, located in western states) do not perform FNA as commonly as other OTO-HNSs. Further education regarding the merits of FNA is needed.
Cannon
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Head & Neck Surgical Group, the Division of Otolaryngology, Department of Surgery, University of Mississipi Medical Center, USA.
Replogle
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D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010036:Otolaryngology; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'