The role of pre-operative CT-guided FNAB for parapharyngeal space tumors.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the role of computed tomography (CT)-guided fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) in surgical planning for parapharyngeal space (PPS) tumors.


METHODS
Chart review of 49 consecutive patients with surgically treated PPS tumors from 1995 to 2005.


RESULTS
Twenty-nine patients had CT-guided FNAB. A cytopathologic diagnosis that was the same as final pathology was rendered in 14 (48%) patients; suggestive but not conclusive in 6 (21%) patients; discordant in 3 (10%) patients; and 6 (21%) patients had a nondiagnostic result. Fourteen of 15 patients who had a final histopathologic finding of pleomorphic adenoma had a correct or highly suggestive preoperative FNAB diagnosis. The positive predictive value for CT-guided FNAB to identify benign tumors is 90%, (18 of 20) but to identify malignant PPS tumors is 75% (3 of 4).


CONCLUSIONS
CT-guided FNAB of PPS tumors is helpful to predict the nature of the PPS tumors (especially benign), which allows the surgeon and patient to plan for treatment, accordingly.
Farrag
Tarik Y
TY
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287-0910, USA.
Lin
Frank R
FR
Koch
Wayne M
WM
Califano
Joseph A
JA
Cummings
Charles W
CW
Farinola
Maryam A
MA
Tufano
Ralph P
RP
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008949:Adenoma, Pleomorphic / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle / Q000379:methods*; D003581:Cytodiagnosis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D010610:Pharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011300:Preoperative Care; D015641:Radiography, Interventional; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed