Role of fine-needle aspiration cytology in the evaluation of parotid tumours.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of fine-needle aspiration cytology in the diagnosis of parotid tumours.


METHODS
A retrospective review was conducted to examine the preoperative cytological and final histological results of patients who underwent parotidectomies at our institution.


RESULTS
Sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing malignant and benign tumours were 80%, 100%, and 98.5%, 87.5%, respectively, and 85.1% of benign tumours were accurately typed on fine-needle aspiration cytology compared with only 40% in the malignant group. Using the clinical parameters of associated facial nerve palsy or presence of cervical lymphadenopathy to indicate the presence of malignancy, the diagnostic yield was only 30%.


CONCLUSIONS
Fine-needle aspiration cytology is useful in the preoperative assessment of parotid tumours as it is more reliable than clinical examination to diagnose malignant parotid tumours. Although it may not accurately type the malignant tumours, the diagnosis of malignant tumours preoperatively may allow for appropriate surgical planning by the surgeon.
Department of Otolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery, National University Hospital, 5 Lower Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119074, Singapore.
Chwee Ming
CM
Lim
Juliana
J
They
Kwok Seng
KS
Loh
Siew Shuen
SS
Chao
Lynne Hseuh Yee
LH
Lim
Luke Kim Siang
LK
Tan
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010305:Parotid Diseases / Q000473:pathology; D010307:Parotid Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies