title: Fine-needle aspiration cytology in the management of parotid masses: evaluation of 249 patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The role of fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) in the management of parotid tumours is still the subject of controversy. The purpose of this study was to determine the diagnostic value of FNAC in our institution in order to define its place in the diagnostic strategy.
  
  
  METHODS
  This retrospective study was based on 249 patients who had undergone preoperative FNAC before being operated in our institution between 2001 and 2008. All examinations were performed and interpreted by the same experienced pathologist.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the 249 patients included in this study, 187 (75%) had a benign tumour and 62 (25%) had a malignant tumour. No complications of FNAC were observed. Cytological findings were non-contributory in 47 patients (18%). The sensitivity of FNAC for the diagnosis of malignancy was 80% with a specificity of 89.5%. Among the 11 false-negative results, lymphomas and low-grade mucoepidermoid carcinomas were the most common histological types. Among the 16 false-positive results, Warthin's tumours, pleomorphic adenomas and lymphoepithelial lesions were the most common histological types. Accurate histological classification of the tumour was reported in 79.5% of cases (86% for benign tumours and 44% for malignant tumours).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  FNAC is a reliable examination providing important information to the surgeon in the preoperative diagnostic assessment.
authors.affiliation: Service ORL et chirurgie cervico-faciale, Assistance publique-Hôpitaux de Marseille, centre hospitalier universitaire La Timone, 264, rue Saint-Pierre, 13385 Marseille cedex 05, France. nicolas.fakhry@ap-hm.fr
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fakhry
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Antonini
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Michel
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Penicaud
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mancini
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lagier
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Santini
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Turner
authors.forename: M-A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Chrestian
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zanaret
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dessi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giovanni
mesh_terms: D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D010305:Parotid Diseases / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D010306:Parotid Gland / Q000473:pathology*; D010307:Parotid Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies