Efficacy of 'two-man' FNAB technique in the assessment of patients with non-thyroid neck masses

Objective: To show the superiority of 'two-man' FNAB technique comparing to the standard FNAB technique. in order to identify the cause of non-thyroid neck masses. Methods: Over an 18 months period. a consecutive paired study was conducted in the tertiary referral Venizelion General Hospital. Forty- four cytologic examinations were performed in patients with non-thyroid hea d and neck masses. The samples were taken from the same side using both tec hniques the standard FNAB technique and the 'two-man' FNAB technique (for w hich two persons carried out the procedure). The slides were seen by the pa thologist and were defined as diagnostic, suggestive or inconclusive. The d iagnosis was confirmed in any case by definite histology after surgical tre atment or open biopsy. Results: From 44 samples taken with the 'two-man' te chnique, 34 were diagnostic (all true) verified by histopathology, seven su ggestive (five true and two false) and three inconclusive (6.82%). The corr ect diagnosis was confirmed in 39 cases (88.64%). From 44 samples of standa rd technique, 22 were diagnostic (all true), 12 suggestive (five true and s even false) and 10 inconclusive (22.72%). The correct diagnosis was confirm ed in 27 cases (61.36%). The accuracy of diagnosis with the standard FNAB t echnique was 0.79 (SE=0.07), while with the 'two-man' FNAB technique was 0. 95 (SE=0.03). a significant statistical difference (Fischer exact test. P=0 .041). Conclusions: 'Two-man' FNAB technique proved to be as safe and patie nt friendly as the standard FNAB. but more accurate and may be easier to pe rform than this. The 'two-man' FNAB technique could become the preferred me thod for fine-needle cytology, particularly for difficult to reach areas of the head and neck. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reser ved.