Fine needle aspiration cytology of head and neck masses: a cytohistopathological correlation study with emphasis on false positives and false negatives.

OBJECTIVES This study aims to evaluate the accuracy ratio of fine needle aspiration (FNA) cytology in the diagnosis of non-thyroidal head and neck masses. PATIENTS AND METHODS Between 2000 January and 2003 December, the pathology reports of 571 patients (297 males, 274 females; mean age 45 years; range 4 to 83 years) with non-thyroidal head and neck masses who underwent FNA cytology during a four year period were retrospectively analyzed. Cytopathological and histopathological results of the samples were recorded. The smear results indicating an inconsistency were reviewed. The possible causes of the false positivity and false negativity were investigated. RESULTS Of a total of 571 patients, 181 had a confirmed histopathological diagnosis. The overall accuracy ratio, specificity, sensitivity, negative predictive value and positive predictive value of FNA in the diagnosis of the head and neck masses were 83%, 85%, 81%, 84%, 83%, respectively. CONCLUSION The FNA has a high accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, negative and positive predictive values in the diagnosis of head and neck masses. If the major causes of misdiagnosis including inadequate sampling and misinterpretation are avoided, the diagnostic accuracy ratio of FNA in the head and neck and will be improved.