FINE-NEEDLE ASPIRATION BIOPSY IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF PAROTID-GLAND LESIONS - EVALUATION OF 438 BIOPSIES

The usefulness of fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) in the diagnosi s and treatment of salivary gland lesions is still controversial. The 438 FNABs taken at the Turku University Central Hospital between 1984- 1991 were reviewed. Of these FNABs, 218 had been confirmed histologica lly. Within this subset, 136 FNABs were taken from benign neoplasms, a nd of these, 103 were correct (sensitivity 76%, specificity 83%). Only 26 of the 47 FNABs from malignant lesions were cytologically consider ed to be malignant (sensitivity 55%) and II samples raised a false sus picion of malignancy (specificity 92%). Out of 35 FNABs from non-neopl astic lesions, 27 were correct (sensitivity 77%, specificity 80%). The re were 175 patients (217 FNABs), who had not been operated on: the fo llow-up of these patients showed that false malignant and false benign findings were rare. FNAB was safe and no serious complications occurr ed. However, there was a delay in the treatment of six patients probab ly because of the physicians' limited understanding of the diagnostic role of FNAB. FNAB offers valuable information about the type of parot id lesion, but the clinician must know how to interpret the cytologic statement, and the decision to use operative and other treatment shoul d not be based solely on the result of FNAB. (C) 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.