RESUMO
Background and Objectives: This study is done to evaluate the role of FNAC in head and neck massesandal so to study their distribution. A correlation was done between cytology and histopathology whenever surgical specimens were available and to assess the accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value in various head and neck lesions. Methodology: From500cases, FNA smears were taken and stained with PAP, MGG and special stains whenever required. FNA results were interpreted and analysed according to the anatomical sites and the lesions were categorized into inflammatory and neoplastic conditions. Results: Among 500 cases, histopathological correlations were available only in 103 cases. The sensitivity, specificity, predictive value of the positive test, predictive value of the negative test lesions which were being detected were88.89%, 80.64%, 66.67%, 50% respectively. There were no false positives. The diagnostic accuracy of the salivary gland, lymph node and soft tissue lesions were 87.13%. Conclusion: There was perfect agreement in a majority of the lesions. The technique is simple, safe, convenient and an accurate method for tissue diagnosis. Hence, FNAC is an effective diagnostic tool in the diagnosis of head and neck masses.