Role of Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology in Assessment of Head and Neck Lesions - A Study at a Tertiary Care Centre

Abstract

BACKGROUND Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is a rapid, economical and less invasive method used for diagnosis in case of head and neck lesions which are commonly seen in general practice. Aim was to assess advantage of using FNAC in case of diagnosis of palpable head and neck masses. We wanted to assess the prevalence and distribution of head and neck swellings diagnosed by FNAC, assess the frequency and distribution of various lesion as per the site, age, and gender as well as according to the lesion being benign or malignant. METHODS This was a retrospective study conducted among five hundred and forty-four patients who went through FNAC for different types of head and neck swellings evaluated for cytomorphology. RESULTS Majority of the patients belonged to the age group of 31 to 40 years. Out of 544 cases, maximum lesions were from lymph nodes 264, followed by thyroid gland 193, salivary gland 59, cheek lesions 18, post–auricular 8 and forehead / scalp lesions 2 cases respectively. CONCLUSIONS FNAC being extremely sensitive, specific and a reliable procedure for screening and primary diagnosis of palpable head and neck lesions, helps as an adjunct to histopathology. For surgical and radiological decisive purposes, to decide as to whether to resect a benign tumour or to plan extensive surgeries, FNAC helps in guiding the therapeutic management by avoiding unnecessary surgeries and expenses. KEY WORDS Head & Neck, Lymph Node, Goiter