THE ACCURACY OF FINE-NEEDLE ASPIRATION BIOPSY IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF HEAD AND NECK MASSES

Patients presenting with a mass in the head and neck region require a tissue biopsy in order to make a histological diagnosis. Fine needle a spiration (FNA) offers a safe, well tolerated and inexpensive method o f obtaining such a biopsy. When the patient is first seen in the clini c, the FNA can be performed, the result read and appropriate managemen t instituted. The results of FNA biopsies of head and neck masses perf ormed between May 1993 and June 1995, at the Department of Otolaryngol ogy, Head and Neck Surgery in Saint James's Hospital, Dublin were revi ewed. Of the 130 patients who had FNA biopsies performed, 78 went on t o have surgical excision of the mass. To determine the accuracy of FNA biopsy in the diagnosis of head and neck masses at our unit, we compa red the cytology result and the final histology report of these 78 pat ients, The overall accuracy rate of FNA cytology was 95 per cent, when compared to the final histology result. The accuracy rate was 87 per cent for malignant lesions and 95 per cent for benign lesions. No comp lications were encountered in this study. Based on our results and tho se of other studies, we recommend performing FNA in all patients prese nting with a mass in the head and neck region.