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Abstract

Introduction: Fine needle aspiration cytology is a widely recognized and sensitive technique in which affine needle is introduced into a mass, cellular material is aspirated and a cytological diagnosis is made. It provides diagnosis for palpable masses in head and neck, enabling appropriate management plans and differentiating inflammatory processes that do not require surgical intervention from neoplasm and benign from malignant tumors. Objective: To study the value of fine needle aspiration (FNA) in the diagnosis of palpable neck masses in Dammam Central Hospital. Study Design: FNA from 258 patients with palpable non-thyroidal neck masses were reviewed, the results were analyzed into lymph node and salivary gland in origin and into three groups: Inflammatory, congenital and neoplastic. FNA diagnoses were retrospectively correlated from patient�s file with available histological findings or with the outcome of treatment. Accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of FNA were analyzed. Results: After exclusion of the patients who lost follow-up and inadequate specimens for the diagnosis, total of 178 FNA was performed, 159 adult cases while only 19 cases were pediatric patients. For the masses from palpable lymph node, the most common diagnoses were reactive/non-specific lymphadenitis in pediatric (73.7%) and in adult were reactive/non-specific lymphadenitis and tuberculosis lymphadenitis (50.8% and 32.5%, respectively). The next most common masses were neoplasm (16.7%), of those 45% were metastatic in origin and diagnosis of lymphoma made in 55% of the cases. FNA from major salivary glands were 12.6% of the cases, mainly parotid and submandibular gland (65%, and 35%, respectively). FNA has overall accuracy of 95.7%. Conclusion: FNA of head and neck masses is a simple, cost effective and yet very effective diagnostic tool in separating inflammatory from neoplastic lesion. It enhanced surgical planning for malignant diseases and allowing rapid referral of lymphomas and cancer cases for a higher center for further management.

Biography

Zeinab Al Qudehy has completed Saudi Board & Arab Board in Otorhinolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, which are equivalent to PhD in the same specialty from Saudi Council of Health Specialties, Saudi Arabia and had European Board and Fellowship in Otorhinolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery in 2009 & 2010. She has completed her Post-doctoral studies in Pediatric Otolaryngology from Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, Manchester, UK as well as Pediatric Otolaryngology fellowship from University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada. She has published more than 12 papers in reputed journals and has been serving as Editorial Board Member of repute.

Email: drzeinabent@gmail.com