FINE-NEEDLE ASPIRATION OF PAROTID MASSES

Background. There is controversy concerning the utility of fine-needle aspiration in diagnosing parotid masses. Even studies on large series of patients have compared aspiration findings with the histology in m uch fewer cases. Methods. Preoperative fine-needle aspiration findings were compared with the histopathologic diagnoses from surgically rese cted specimens in 246 patients presenting with and treated for parotid mass from 1980-1990. Results. Of 173 benign tumors, 159 (91.9%) were diagnosed correctly and 110 of 144 (> 60%) were typed. Of 36 malignant tumors, malignancy was recognized in 22 cases (61.1%). There were nin e false-negatives, and in five cases, the specimen was unsatisfactory. The four cases of metastatic disease were correctly typed. Only two o f seven lymphomas (28.6%) were identified. The cytologic and histologi c diagnoses were concordant in all cases of nonneoplastic disease. Ove rall accuracy was 87%. Conclusions. Fine-needle aspiration speeds up t he diagnostic process and, with close cooperation between clinician an d pathologist, the technique is a valuable adjunct to preoperative ass essment in patients with parotid masses.