A simple exam to screen superficial masses: Fine‐needle aspiration cytology

Abstract

Fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is now considered a useful tool in the evaluation of adult patients with mass lesions. We reviewed the experience with FNAC in our Paediatric Surgical Department. One hundred and eleven FNACs were performed in children with a superficial mass and no definite diagnosis. All the exams were done by the same physician using a fine needle and no anesthesia. We routinely used May-Grüwald-Giemsa and Papanicolaou staining. Patients age ranged from 20 days to 17 years, with a mean age of 6.5 years. A clinically benign pathology was cytologically confirmed in 90 cases (81%). All children did well at follow-up. Malignancy was diagnosed in eight cases (7.2%) and in all was confirmed with a surgical biopsy. In nine children (8.1%) the specimen was considered insufficient for definite diagnosis. In four cases (3.6%) the pathologist diagnosed a possible malignancy that was excluded at surgical biopsy. The sensitivity was 100% and the specificity was 96%. Our experience confirms that FNAC is a fast, cheap, simple, and accurate diagnostic method and should be used for screening in all children with doubtful superficial masses.

Clinicopathological Study of Neck Masses in Patients Attending ENT out Patient Department of Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences, Ranchi

“…Masses located within the region of head and neck including salivary glands and thyroid masses can be readily diagnosed using this technique. 2,3 In the head and neck region, FNAC is of great value because of the multiplicity of accessible organs and heterogeneous pathologies encountered. An early differentiation of benign from malignant pathology greatly influences the planned treatment.…”

Correlation of Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology and Histopathology of the Neck Swellings Presenting at National Academy of Medical Sciences, Kathmandu, Nepal

“…It is a easy, fast and inexpensive method used for sampling superficial masses of the neck and is commonly performed in the outpa ent clinic. It causes least trauma to the pa ent and carries negligible risk of 3,4 complica ons. It is performed under local anesthesia and is usually helpful if a neck lump is suspected to be malignant.…”

Accuracy of FNAC in diagnosing thyroid swelling: a retrospective study

“…Swellings located in the head and neck region including thyroid can be readily diagnosed using this technique. 2,3 FNAC is particularly important in planning the further treatment of the neck swelling as it helps in differentiating between benign and malignant disease. There is no evidence that tumour spreads through the skin tract created by fine hypodermic needle used in this technique.…”