Fine needle aspiration cytology: application to children with neck masses

ABSTRACT

Fine needle aspiration cytology is widely used to screen neck masses in adult population. Our present series of 40 fine needle aspiration cytology performed during January 2001 to December 2002, on 40 children with clinically significant neck masses. These fine needle aspiration cytology were confirmed by subsequent surgical biopsies, or follow up of patient for 18 months. Out of the 40 aspirations performed 32 required no subsequent surgical biopsy whereas those of 8 tumors identified, 6 were malignant. In 4 of these cases, metastatic tumors were diagnosed and appropriate therapy provided. Two false negative and one false positive result were obtained. No delay in treatment occurred because of false negative result and no radical treatment resulted from the false positive diagnosis. The sensitivity was 93.8% and the specificity was 94.4. The usefulness and cost effectiveness of fine needle aspiration is stressed