Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) of salivary gland tumours: repeat aspiration provides further information in cases with an unclear initial cytological diagnosis.
BACKGROUND
Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) for salivary gland tumours requires expertise in interpretation. When a diagnosis is not clear (despite a cellular aspirate), published work is lacking on the value of repeating the test.


METHODS
A retrospective study of 135 patients who had FNAC followed by definitive excision for a suspected salivary gland tumour. Accuracy was compared among those requiring repeat FNAC on one more occasion because of a non-diagnostic initial cytology report.


RESULTS
33 patients (24% of study group) had repeat FNAC. A definite cytological diagnosis was subsequently made in 27/33 patients (82%). The sensitivity (84%) and specificity (93%) of repeat FNAC in distinguishing benign from malignant tumours was similar to initial FNAC (70% and 95%, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
Repeat FNAC may provide a cytological diagnosis in cases where the initial diagnosis is not clear, although cytology should be used in conjunction with other investigations of salivary tumours, including image-guided biopsy examination where appropriate. Ideally salivary gland FNAC should be interpreted by a specialist pathologist.
Brennan
Peter A
PA
Department of Maxillofacial Surgery, Queen Alexandra Hospital, Portsmouth, UK. Peter.brennan@porthosp.nhs.uk
Davies
Benedict
B
Poller
David
D
Mead
Zoe
Z
Bayne
Duncan
D
Puxeddu
Roberto
R
Oeppen
Rachel S
RS
D000235:Adenolymphoma / Q000473:pathology; D000236:Adenoma / Q000473:pathology; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary; D003581:Cytodiagnosis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000473:pathology; D010307:Parotid Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012468:Salivary Gland Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000556:secondary; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013365:Submandibular Gland Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional