title: [Cervical node fine needle aspiration: factors influencing the failure rate].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We had for aim to study the factors influencing the rate of non satisfactory (NS) cervical node fine needle aspirations (CNFNA).
  
  
  METHODS
  We prospectively included 272 CNFNA, performed over 2 years (2010-2012). NS results were studied according to the following criteria: age, size and location of the node, number of punctures performed, and the operating physician's experience.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty-six (20.6%) of the 272 CNFNA were NS because they were acellular or paucicellular. The rate of NS CNFNA was not correlated with the patient's age: 63.6% for small lymph nodes (≤1 cm: P=0.01). Submandibular and jugulodigastric locations were observed in 28% of NS CNFNA and in 5% of satisfactory ones (P=0.001). The rate of NS CNFNA was 67% if 1 or 2 punctures were performed; it decreased to 18% for 3 or more punctures (P=0.01). This rate was 77% for the first study semester, and 8% for the fourth semester (P=0.001). CNFNA has been repeated for 19 patients. The second CNFNA was contributive for 14 patients. Repeating the CNFNA increased its efficiency by 73.7% (14/19).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The rate of NS CNFNA depends on the size and location of the lymph node, and the operating physician's experience. Repeating the CNFNA significantly improves its efficiency.
authors.affiliation: Service d'anatomie et de cytologie pathologiques, hôpital Charles-Nicolle, Tunis, Tunisie. Electronic address: rammehs@yahoo.fr.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rammeh
authors.affiliation: Service d'anatomie et de cytologie pathologiques, hôpital Charles-Nicolle, Tunis, Tunisie.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ben Rejeb
authors.affiliation: Service d'anatomie et de cytologie pathologiques, hôpital Charles-Nicolle, Tunis, Tunisie.
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: M'farrej
authors.affiliation: Service d'anatomie et de cytologie pathologiques, hôpital Charles-Nicolle, Tunis, Tunisie.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Znaidi
authors.affiliation: Service d'anatomie et de cytologie pathologiques, hôpital Charles-Nicolle, Tunis, Tunisie.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Farah
authors.affiliation: Service d'oto-rhino-laryngologie, hôpital Charles-Nicolle, Tunis, Tunisie.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ferjaoui
authors.affiliation: Service d'anatomie et de cytologie pathologiques, hôpital Charles-Nicolle, Tunis, Tunisie.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zermani
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D008206:Lymphatic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009333:Neck; D009339:Needles; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Cytologie; Cytology; Cytoponction à l’aiguille fine; Fine needle aspiration; Ganglion; Lymph node