Fine needle aspiration cytology role in head and neck lesions.

Introduction: Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) is a simple, quick and inexpensive method in the head and neck region. It also affords a practicable and means of rationally planning surgery and causes minimal trauma to the patient and carries no risk of complications. Aim and objectives: The aim of this study was to see the frequency of various pathological conditions detected on FNAC in patients presenting with head and neck swellings and to evaluate the role of FNAC in diagnosis of head and neck swelling. Material and methods: A retrospective study was conducted in Department of Pathology, SMIMER Medical College, Surat from July 2014 to June 2015which included 250 patients with head and neck swellings presenting to Outpatient clinics. Fine Needle Aspiration Diagnosis was correlated with detail of relevant clinical findings and investigation. Results: Maximum incidence was observed in the age group 31-40 years with higher incidence among males. Out of 250 cases, 160 cases of lymph node lesions were diagnosed of which non- specific lymphadenitis was the commonest diagnosis (47%) followed by Tuberculous lymphadentities (25%). 57 cases of thyroid lesions were diagnosed, in which incidence rate of benign thyroid lesions was (84%). 12 cases of salivary gland lesions were found, among which pleomorphic adenoma was common (67%). Conclusion: It was concluded that non-Specific lymphadenitis is the commonest condition in patients presenting with neck swellings. FNAC is a simple, safe and inexpensive tool for the assessment of patients with head and neck swellings. It could differentiate the infective process from neoplastic one and avoids unnecessary surgeries. Thus, FNAC can be recommended as a first line of investigation in the diagnosis of head and neck swellings.

Fine needle aspiration cytology in head and neck swellings: a diagnostic and therapeutic procedure.

Background: Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) is a very simple, quick, inexpensive and minimally invasive technique used to diagnose different types of swellings like lymph node, thyroid, soft tissue and salivary glands in head and neck region. These swellings frequently encountered in general practice. It may be inflammatory, reactive, benign or malignant lesion. The objective was to assess the frequency and incidence of different sites, age, sex and distribution of reactive, benign and malignant lesion. Methods: A prospective study was conducted at Geetanjali Medical College & Hospital, from January 2014 to August 2014.Fine needle aspiration diagnosis was correlated with details of relevant clinical findings and investigations. Patients aged between 1 and 75 years were included in the study. A total of 200 patients were enrolled in the study with their name, age, sex, profession, address and contact. Results: Out of 200 fine needle aspiration procedures 42% were of lymph node, 18.5% were of thyroid, 15.5% from salivary gland, 8% from soft tissue, scalp and forehead swellings and 5.5% from lips and oral cavity lesion. Lymphnodes were the commonest organ involved in which reactive were 16% and 15% granulomatous lesion. There were 2.5% cases of non specific inflammatory lesion from lymph nodes. Conclusions: Our study found that FNAC is simple, quick, inexpensive and minimally invasive technique to diagnose different types of head and neck swellings. It could differentiate the infective and benign process from neoplastic one and avoids unnecessary surgeries and expenses.

Fine needle aspiration cytology of swellings of head and neck region.

Head and neck mass lesions are frequently found in clinical practice. A spectrum of pathological lesions ranging from simple benign lesion to highly malignant manifestation is observed. Objectives: To make clinicopathological correlation of head and neck lesions and to assess the frequency of incidences of different sites, age groups, sex, and distribution among inflammation and neoplastic lesion. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study was conducted from January 2011 to April 2012. Fine-needle aspiration diagnosis was correlated with details of relevant clinical findings and investigations. Patients aged between 1 and 70 years were included in the study. A total of 200 patients with the swellings of head and neck underwent fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC). Results: Out of 200 fine-needle aspiration procedures, 52% were of thyroid, 28.50% were of lymph node, 11% from salivary gland, and 4% from soft tissue and miscellaneous swellings. There were 4.5% cases in which diagnosis was not possible. In inflammatory swelling (33%), tuberculous lymph node (42.12%) involvement is common than all other sites with male preponderance (55%). Conclusion: FNAC is a simple, quick, inexpensive, and minimally invasive technique to diagnose different types of head and neck swellings. It could differentiate the infective process from neoplastic one and avoids unnecessary surgeries. Thus, FNAC can be recommended as a first line of investigation in the diagnosis of head and neck swellings.