Diagnostic approach in parotid swellings

This work is based on the analysis of data obtained from 30 patients with unilateral parotid swellings in the period between January, 1987 and December, 1990 in the Ain Shams University Hospital. The advantages of ultrasonography, CT scanning and fine needle aspiration cytology [FNAC] over clinical diagnosis have been evaluated. The patients were subjected to superficial conservative or total parotidectomy according to the site and nature of the lesion. Ultrasonography served in the detection of cystic lesions not evident in clinical examination in two patients, while it failed to localize the lesion in relation to parotid gland. CT scanning detected involvement of the deep lobe in four patients and localized the lesions precisely in all other patients. Fine needle aspiration cytology gave a correct pathological diagnosis in 24 patients. The results obtained from the work encourages the use of these investigatory tools more oftenly