Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (fnac) of Palpable Lesions of Head and Neck Region

Objective: This study is done to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of FNA in palpable lesions of head and neck region and find out false positive / negative data to analyze the value and limitations of fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) in lesions of head and neck region with Cyto-histopathological correlations. Materials and Methods: From 125 cases, fine needle aspiration smears were taken and stained with Giemsa and PAP. Fine needle aspiration cytology results were examined according to the anatomical location and all the lesions were classified into inflammatory and euplastic pathology. The cytological findings were correlated with those of histopathology whenever sent by surgeon. Results: Among 125 cases, histopathological correlations were available only in 71 cases. The sensitivity, specificity, predictive value of the positive test, predictive value of the negative test and were 89.28%, 90.69%, 86.20% and 92.86% respectively. The investigative accuracy of the lymph node, salivary gland, Thyroid gland and soft tissue lesions were 90.14%. Conclusion: It can be concluded from the present study that fine needle aspiration cytology offers a simple method of diagnosis of neoplastic and nonneoplastic lesions of head and neck region. Fine needle aspiration cytology is a simple, quick, economical and non traumatic procedure can easily be carried out in outpatient department or bed sides.