[Utility of fine-needle aspiration biopsy in head and neck masses].

Objectives: We investigated the utility of fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) for head and neck masses, and compared FNAB results with histopathologic diagnoses.
Patients and Methods: In a group of 352 patients (168 males, 184 females; mean age 44+/-19 years; range 2 to 94 years) who were operated on for head and neck masses, FNAB was performed in 167 patients (47.4%). The results of FNAB were compared with histopathologic diagnoses in four groups of localization: parotid, thyroid, submandibular gland, and cervical levels. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive and negative predictive rates of FNAB were calculated for each group.
Results: There were 64 parotid (38.3%), 29 thyroid (17.4%), 19 level V (11.4%), 18 level II (10.8%), 14 level III (8.4%), 9 level I (5.4%), and 7 submandibular gland (4.2%) masses. The overall correlation of FNAB with histopathologic diagnoses was 71.9%, being 76.6% in parotid, 75.9% in thyroid, 57.1% in submandibular gland, and 67.2% in neck (levels I-VI) masses. The highest sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive and negative predictive rates were determined for parotid masses (98%, 93.3%, 98%, 93.3%, respectively), whereas the lowest rates were obtained in submandibular gland masses (50%, 66.7%, 66.7%, 50%, respectively).
Conclusion: The use of FNAB for head and neck masses, in particular parotid masses, provides considerable contribution to treatment planning.