title: Fine-needle aspiration cytological diagnosis of neck masses.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) is a simple, safe, inexpensive, and acceptable method for diagnosing masses, especially at superficial areas. Therefore, we decided to evaluate the accuracy of FNA cytological diagnosis in nonthyroidal, nonsalivary gland neck masses and compare the results with histopathological diagnosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this retrospective study, all cases with FNA cytological diagnosis of nonthyroidal, nonsalivary gland neck masses from April 2009 to July 2013 were retrieved. The procedure was done by pathologists, and all cytological and histopathological slides of the existing 46 cases were reviewed by 3 pathologists. The values of sensitivity (SN), specificity (SP), positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and diagnostic accuracy were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  SN, SP, PPV, NPV, and accuracy in this study were 79, 100, 100, 73, and 86%, respectively. We had 6 false-negative and no false-positive cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The FNA procedure is a reliable method as the first step for the diagnosis of nonthyroidal, nonsalivary gland neck masses. To increase the diagnostic value of cytology, careful examination of all cytological slides, repetition of the FNA procedure and good history taking are helpful.
authors: Department of Pathology, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors: Mohammad Javad
authors: MJ
authors: Ashraf
authors: Hanieh
authors: H
authors: Raad
authors: Negar
authors: N
authors: Azarpira
authors: Bijan
authors: B
authors: Khademi
authors: Mahmood
authors: M
authors: Shishegar
authors: Behrooz
authors: B
authors: Gandomi
authors: Sezaneh
authors: S
authors: Hagpanah
authors: Pourya
authors: P
authors: Adibi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D003581:Cytodiagnosis; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008067:Lipoma / Q000473:pathology; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009333:Neck / Q000473:pathology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D055815:Young Adult