Value of flow cytometry in the evaluation of head and neck fine-needle lymphoid aspirates: A 3-year retrospective review of a community-based practice

OBJECTIVE: fo study the clinical efficacy of flow cytometry in patients sus pected of having a lymphoma with head and neck pathology. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective review of 49 patients with lymphoid aspirates h aving concurrent flow cytometry studies. SETTING: Private practice office-based study. CONCLUSION: Fine-needle aspiration with concurrent flow cytometry is a usef ul, convenient adjunct to the diagnosis of head and neck non-Hodgkins lymph omas, SIGNIFICANCE: Flow cytometry is a significant improvement over fine-needle aspiration derived cytologic diagnosis alone. Tissue open biopsy may be avo ided altogether in some patients with non-Hodgkins lymphoma.