Non-thyroid neck lumps: appraisal of the role of fine needle aspiration cytology.
To compare the non-diagnostic rate of fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) of non-thyroid neck lumps performed under ultrasound (US) guidance against non-guided FNAC (performed in outpatient clinic). Final histology results were compared with cytological diagnosis. We performed a retrospective study of 625 patients identified as having undergone FNAC of non-thyroid neck lumps from the pathology/radiology databases over a 3 year period. A total of 396 patients underwent non-ultrasound guided FNAC (12 excluded). 34% of patients had a non-diagnostic sample. A total number of 229 patients underwent ultrasound guided FNAC with a non-diagnostic rate of 12%. The Chi-squared test showed a significant difference (P < 0.001). FNAC results were compared with definitive histology in 238 patients. Sensitivity was 92% and specificity was 90%. US-guided FNAC resulted in a lower non-diagnostic rate. FNAC was highly sensitive for diagnosis of malignant lumps but less good at confirming a lump to be benign.
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Singleton Hospital, Swansea NHS Trust, Sketty, Swansea, UK. addamswilliamsjh@hotmail.com
J
J
Addams-Williams
D
D
Watkins
S
S
Owen
N
N
Williams
C
C
Fielder
D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle / Q000379:methods*; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008206:Lymphatic Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D009333:Neck; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000502:physiology*; D014463:Ultrasonography