title: Fine-needle aspiration cytology in parotid masses: our experience in Canterbury, New Zealand.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of the present study was to assess the value of fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) in parotid masses.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective review was carried out of FNAC results in parotid masses and the findings compared to histology on subsequent parotidectomy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred parotid masses were investigated. Eighty-six had the cytological diagnosis confirmed by histology, 14 had a different diagnosis at histology. In two of these 14, a malignancy was found where a non-neoplastic condition had been detected. In the other 12, various non-malignant lesions were wrongly identified by FNAC. Squamous cell carcinoma was the commonest parotid malignancy in the present study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fine-needle aspiration cytology was found to be an effective diagnostic tool in the hands of experienced pathologists at Christchurch Hospital, NZ.
authors.affiliation: Otolaryngology Department, Christchurch Hospital, Christchurch, New Zealand. nriley78@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Neil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Riley
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Allison
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stevenson
mesh_terms: D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D006801:Humans; D009520:New Zealand; D010307:Parotid Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome