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Background: Surgeon‐performed ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration (SUS‐FNA) reduces the time to diagnosis and treatment of head and neck pathology. Although it has been validated in the investigation of thyroid pathology, there is a paucity of evidence to support its use in lateral neck masses. This study aims to determine the accuracy and adequacy of SUS‐FNA in the investigation of lateral neck masses. Methods: A retrospective cohort analysis was performed of patients who underwent a SUS‐FNA for lateral neck mass between June 2018 and October 2022 at a single institution. Pathologist reports were reviewed to determine the rate of FNA sample adequacy. A comparison was made between FNA cytology results and final histopathological diagnosis following surgical excision in a subset of patients to determine FNA accuracy. Results: A total of 110 SUS‐FNAs were performed on lateral neck masses. Diagnostic adequacy of SUS‐FNA was determined to be 91% (100/110). When analysing the subset of patients who proceeded to surgical excision, the diagnostic accuracy of SUS‐FNA was determined to be 88% (38/43). Conclusion: SUS‐FNA results in high adequacy rates with good diagnostic accuracy in the investigation of lateral neck masses. This tool has great potential in reducing treatment delay in the management of head and neck cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) can be caused by neoplasms involving the upper aerodigestive tract. Currently, many of these patients have this diagnosis missed, as most adults diagnosed with OSA do not undergo adequate head and neck examination including flexible nasendoscopy. We performed a review of the literature to shed light on this phenomenon and outline the pathologies and issues surrounding this sub‐population of patients diagnosed with OSA. Methods: A scoping review of the literature was conducted on head and neck neoplasms presenting with OSA. Data were extracted on demographics, clinical presentation, histopathology, treatment and patient outcomes. Results: Sixty‐seven articles were included, describing 79 patients. Mean age was 45.8 years, and 77.2% were male. Symptoms of OSA were present for an average of 29.2 months before a diagnosis of causative neoplasm was made. Forty‐two different benign and malignant histopathological entities were reported. At diagnosis, the causative pathology of 100% of patients was visible on head and neck examination including flexible nasendoscopy, while only 53.2% were visible on trans‐oral examination. One‐third of patients had commenced inappropriate treatment for OSA, including three who had undergone sleep surgical procedures. The majority of patients were treated with surgery alone (72.2%). Conclusion: Although rare, neoplasms of the upper aerodigestive tract should be considered as a cause of OSA, especially in patients experiencing other symptoms in addition to the typical symptoms of OSA. They should particularly be considered in patients with comparatively lower body mass index or those with worsening OSA without an apparent cause identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]