Indian Journal of Public Health Research & Development

Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Subscription Access
Open Access Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Restricted Access Subscription Access

A Study of Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology as an Evaluation Tool in Head and Neck Masses


Affiliations
1 Dept. of Pathology, Navodaya Medical College and Research Hospital, Raichur, Karnataka
2 Dept. of ENT, Vydehi Institute of Medical Sciences, Bangalore
3 Greenview Hospital, Bangalore
4 Vydehi Institute of Medical Sciences, Bangalore
     

   Subscribe/Renew Journal


Background and objectives: Masses in head and neck region are a common clinical problem. The clinical evaluation of head and neck masses can be difficult because of anatomical peculiarities, proximity of tissues of various types and wide range of primary and metastatic neoplasm of these areas. The aim of pre-operative and pretreatment investigation is to arrive at a precise and whenever possible type specific diagnosis.

The conventional surgical histopathological examination is considered as confirmatory test. So arise the need for a technique which is less invasive and with less complication, so that treatment can be directed early.

Materials and method: A prospective study was done in department of Pathology from Feb 2008 to Aug 2010. The patients presenting to ENT OPD were subjected to FNAC, whenever possible, these patients were subjected to histopathological study by biopsy. Only those cases, which were subjected to, FNAC and Biopsy, were taken for the study. All cases were examined in detail regarding site, size, and consistency of swelling. Acute inflammatory conditions like neck abscesses and nasal masses like polyps were excluded from the study.

Results: Fifty cases were studied and data were analysed. 27 patients were females and 23 were males. Of the 50 cases 5 (10%) were seen in nasal cavity, 2 (4%) cases were seen in maxillary sinus, 12 (24%) cases were in oral cavity, 11 (22%) in salivary glands i.e. in parotid 6 (12%), 5 (10%) in Submandibular gland, 10 (20%) were in thyroid, 10 (20%) in neck i.e. including both lymph nodes and soft tissue swellings.

Conclusion: Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is a rapid, cost effective and simple out patient procedure which can be performed safely. It has high accuracy rate for head and neck masses. FNAC is the first step of pathological examination in all head and neck masses. In primary diagnosis, accuracy varies with site of lesions, the tissue of origin and the nature of the process. Clinically FNAC should only be used as a guide for preliminary diagnosis, especially in malignant pathologies. Final treatment decision should not be made according to the results of FNAC and tissue biopsy should be obtained before definitive treatment.


Keywords

FNAC, Head and Neck, Biopsy
Subscription Login to verify subscription
User
Notifications
Font Size


  • Orell SR, Sterrett GF, Walters MN-I, Whitaker D (1999). Head and Neck; salivary Glands. In: Manual and Atlas of Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology .3rd Edition, Churchill Livingstone, New York.

  • Cramer H; Lampe H; Downing P (1995): Intraoral and transoral fine needle Aspiration .A review of 25 cases .Acta Cytol 39:683-688.

  • Roussel F, Dalion J, Benozio M: The risk of tumoral seeding in needle biopsies.Acta cytol 33:936-939, 1989

  • Fine needle aspiration cytology in diagnosis of Head & neck Tumour –study of 1082 cases.Asitieiva Mandal, B.K. Choudary –Indian Journal of Otolaryngology & Head & Neck, pg 176.

  • Meatheringham R.E., Ackerman L.U.; Aspiration Biopsy of Lymphnodes, A Critical review of results of 300 aspirations; Journal of surgery, Gynaecology And obstetrics: 1071-1076, 1947.

  • Thomson J., Anderson J.C, Bangsho C. Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy of tumours of head and neck. Journal of Laryngology and Otology 1973; Vol871211-1216.

  • Rode J: Fine needle cytology versus Histology. Histopathology 15:435-439, 1989.

  • Koss L.G., Woyke S, Olszewski W: Aspiration biopsy; Cytologic interpretation And Histologic basis, lgaku-shoin, New York 1984.

  • Sismanis A, Merriam J, Yamaguchi KT, Shapshay S.M, Strong M.S. Diagnostic value of fine needle aspiration biopsy in neoplasms of head & neck. Otolaryngology Head & Neck surgery 89 62-66 1981.

  • Frable W.J., Frable M.A., Thin Needle Aspiration Biopsy –the diagnosis of Head and neck tumors revised; cancer 43: 1541-111548, 1979.

  • Frable W.J.; Thin Needle Aspiration Biopsy-A personal experience with 469 Cases; American Journal of clinical pathology 65:168-182, 1966.

  • Pontifex A.H., Roberts F.J. Fine needle aspiration cytology in inflammatory Condition .Acta cytologica1986; Vol29:979-982

  • Ramzy .T, Rose R., Buhaug J., Schultenover S.J. LymphnodeAspiration Biopsy-Diagnostic reliability and limitations-An analysis of 350 Cases.Diagnostic cytopathology 1985; Vol1:39-45.

  • Diagnostic accuracy of fine needle aspiration biopsy of cold nodules of Thyroid Becharam Sadhikhan, Baran Kumar, Roy Choudary –Indian Journal Of Otolaryngology & Head pg 63 June 1992.

  • Boey J., R.J., Hau C., Wong J., A prospective controlled study of fine needle Aspiration and tru cut needle biopsy of dominant thyroid nodules; world Journal of surgery 8:458-465, 1984.

  • Chu E.W., Hoyer G.; Study of cells in fine needle aspiration of thyroid gland; Acta cytological 23: 309-314, 1979.

  • Mondal A., Barin Kumar Roy chaudhary, Shantanu Banerjee, Bechuram Sadhukham; Cytodiagnostic Accuracy of fine Needle Aspiration of cold Nodules of thyroid; Indian Journal of Otolaryngology and head and neck, Vol. No @: 63-65.1992.

  • GErshengorn M.C., Chu E.W., Manson T.A.S., Melung M.R.; Robbins J., Weintraiub B.D., Fine needle Aspiration Cytology in pre operative diagnosis Of Thyroid nodules; Ann Int. med. 77, 87:265-269, 1977.

  • FNAC versus Histopathology in cervical lymhadenopathy .M.Aslam, S.M.Hasan, S.A. Hasan .Vol 52 pg137.

  • Kline T.S., Neal H.S.; Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy: Critical Appraisal, 8 Years and 3267 specimen later; Journal of American Medical Association 239:36-39, 1978.


Abstract Views: 412

PDF Views: 0




  • A Study of Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology as an Evaluation Tool in Head and Neck Masses

Abstract Views: 412  |  PDF Views: 0

Authors

Chandrakanth V Rathod
Dept. of Pathology, Navodaya Medical College and Research Hospital, Raichur, Karnataka
Santosh Nagalikar
Dept. of ENT, Vydehi Institute of Medical Sciences, Bangalore
Rekha
Greenview Hospital, Bangalore
G Prabhakar
Dept. of ENT, Vydehi Institute of Medical Sciences, Bangalore
Satish Kumar
Dept. of ENT, Vydehi Institute of Medical Sciences, Bangalore
S Manjunath
Vydehi Institute of Medical Sciences, Bangalore

Abstract


Background and objectives: Masses in head and neck region are a common clinical problem. The clinical evaluation of head and neck masses can be difficult because of anatomical peculiarities, proximity of tissues of various types and wide range of primary and metastatic neoplasm of these areas. The aim of pre-operative and pretreatment investigation is to arrive at a precise and whenever possible type specific diagnosis.

The conventional surgical histopathological examination is considered as confirmatory test. So arise the need for a technique which is less invasive and with less complication, so that treatment can be directed early.

Materials and method: A prospective study was done in department of Pathology from Feb 2008 to Aug 2010. The patients presenting to ENT OPD were subjected to FNAC, whenever possible, these patients were subjected to histopathological study by biopsy. Only those cases, which were subjected to, FNAC and Biopsy, were taken for the study. All cases were examined in detail regarding site, size, and consistency of swelling. Acute inflammatory conditions like neck abscesses and nasal masses like polyps were excluded from the study.

Results: Fifty cases were studied and data were analysed. 27 patients were females and 23 were males. Of the 50 cases 5 (10%) were seen in nasal cavity, 2 (4%) cases were seen in maxillary sinus, 12 (24%) cases were in oral cavity, 11 (22%) in salivary glands i.e. in parotid 6 (12%), 5 (10%) in Submandibular gland, 10 (20%) were in thyroid, 10 (20%) in neck i.e. including both lymph nodes and soft tissue swellings.

Conclusion: Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is a rapid, cost effective and simple out patient procedure which can be performed safely. It has high accuracy rate for head and neck masses. FNAC is the first step of pathological examination in all head and neck masses. In primary diagnosis, accuracy varies with site of lesions, the tissue of origin and the nature of the process. Clinically FNAC should only be used as a guide for preliminary diagnosis, especially in malignant pathologies. Final treatment decision should not be made according to the results of FNAC and tissue biopsy should be obtained before definitive treatment.


Keywords


FNAC, Head and Neck, Biopsy

References