The role of fine-needle aspiration cytology and magnetic resonance imaging in the management of parotid mass lesions.
CONCLUSIONS
Fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is the diagnostic modality of first choice for characterization of parotid mass lesions, while magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) should not be requested routinely. MRI can be reserved until FNAC shows the indication for surgical intervention.


OBJECTIVE
Although both FNAC and MRI are useful preoperative diagnostic modalities for parotid mass lesions, it is not well established which modality is more effective. In the present study we sought to address the relative value of FNAC and MRI in relation to the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant parotid mass lesions.


METHODS
Eighty-one patients with parotid mass lesions (60 benign and 21 malignant) who had preoperatively undergone FNAC and MRI were reviewed retrospectively.


RESULTS
Unsharp margin and infiltration into adjacent tissues on MRI significantly correlated with a malignant histology. The sensitivity/specificity/accuracy of FNAC and MRI were 90%/95%/94% and 81%/92%/89%, respectively. Either FNAC or MRI served equally to predict the malignant nature of parotid mass lesions. Furthermore, the combination of FNAC and MRI yielded no diagnostic advantage over either modality alone. Accurate histological typing rates by FNAC were 80% and 62% for benign and malignant lesions, respectively.
Inohara
Hidenori
H
Department of Otolaryngology, Osaka University School of Medicine, Suita, Japan. hinohara@ent.med.osaka-u.ac.jp
Akahani
Shiro
S
Yamamoto
Yoshifumi
Y
Hattori
Kenji
K
Tomiyama
Yoichiro
Y
Tomita
Yasuhiko
Y
Aozasa
Katsuyuki
K
Kubo
Takeshi
T
D000235:Adenolymphoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D018249:Adenoma, Oxyphilic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D008949:Adenoma, Pleomorphic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D003560:Cysts / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D010306:Parotid Gland / Q000473:pathology*; D010307:Parotid Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D011300:Preoperative Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity