Diagnostic accuracy and utility of fine-needle aspiration cytology in therapeutic management of parotid gland tumours.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: The utility of fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) in parotid tumours remains widely debated. This study aims to evaluate the accuracy of FNAC in diagnosing parotid tumours. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of patients with tumour disease of the parotid gland treated at a Portuguese Oncology Institute, over a period of 25 years. The preoperative FNAC results were compared with the final histopathological diagnosis. We calculated the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of FNAC for malignancy. Association between malignancy on histopathology and FNAC results were evaluated with the Chi-square test. RESULTS: The study sample consisted of 155 patients (77 males and 78 females) with a mean age of 56.6±17.0 years. In 27 cases (17.4%), the FNAC result was indeterminate. In this group of patients there was a higher proportion of malignancy on histology (48.1%) (X2; p<0.001). In the group with a conclusive result on FNAC, the sensitivity and specificity of FNAC for malignancy was 66.7% and 99.0%, respectively. PPV was 94.1% and NPV was 92.8%. CONCLUSIONS: A benign result on FNAC should be used with caution, due to its low sensitivity for malignancy. An indeterminate result on FNAC should raise suspicion for a malignant tumour.

Tumores de las glándulas parótidas en Las Tunas: 2004 - 2006 / Parotid glands tumors in Las Tunas: 2004 - 2006

El cáncer es la segunda causa de muerte y la primera razón de años de vida potencialmente perdidos en Cuba. Los tumores malignos de glándulas salivales representan el 5 6 por ciento del cáncer de cabeza y cuello, una localización oncológica con incidencia creciente; mientras que entre el 65 y el 80 por ciento de los tumores de las glándulas salivales afectan a la parótida. Se realizó una investigación observacional descriptiva transversal en pacientes con tumores de parótida que asistieron a la consulta de Patología de Cabeza y Cuello del Hospital Dr. Ernesto Guevara de Las Tunas, durante el periodo de enero de 2004 a enero de 2006, para determinar el comportamiento de un conjunto de variables demográficas, tales como la edad, el sexo, los tipos predominantes de tumores benignos y malignos, entre otros. Los tumores benignos fueron más frecuentes en las mujeres; en los hombres las neoplasias se diagnosticaron a edades más avanzadas. El adenoma pleomorfo, entre las neoplasias benignas, y el carcinoma mucoepidermoide, entre las malignas, fueron las variedades histológicas con mayor incidencia en la muestra estudiada, con 70por ciento y 44,8 por ciento, respectivamente (AU)

Cancer is the second cause of death and the first reason of years of life potentially lost in Cuba. Malignant tumors of the salivary glands represent a 5 - 6 per cent of head and neck cancer, an oncological site with an increasing incidence, while between 65 per cent and 80per cent of the tumors of the salivary glands affect the parotid. An observational descriptive transversal investigation was carried out in patients with parotid tumors who attended the Office of Head and Neck Pathology of Dr. Ernesto Guevara Hospital, in Las Tunas, in the period from January 2004 to January 2006, to determine the behaviour of a set of demographic variables such as age, sex, the predominant types of benign and malignant tumors, among others. The benign tumors were most frequent in women, while in men neoplasias were diagnosed at advanced years. The pleomorphic adenoma among benign neoplasias and the mucoepidermoid carcinoma among the malignant neoplasias were the histological varieties with greater incidence in the sample studied, with 70 per cent and 44,8 per cent, respectively(AU)

Tumores de glándulas salivales: Nuestra experiencia

Se realiza una investigación aplicada descriptiva longitudinal con todos los pacientes portadores de tumores de glándulas salivales que necesitaron tratamiento quirúrgico en el Servicio de Cirugía Maxilofacial del Hospital Universitario Clinicoquirúrgico "Dr. Gustavo Aldereguía" de Cienfuegos, durante el período de enero de 1990 a diciembre de 1999. Se observó un predominio del sexo femenino, así como del grupo etario de mayores de 60. La glándula más afectada fue la parótida, dentro de los adenomas, el pleomorfo fue el de mayor frecuencia, mientras que el carcinoma adenoideo quístico lo fue en el grupo de los carcinomas. La cirugía fue la principal arma terapéutica, seguida de la combinación quirúrgicaradiante. Además se analizan algunos esquemas de quimioterapia.

An applied descriptive and longitudinal investigation was made with all the patients carriers of salivary gland tumors that needed surgical treatment at the Maxillofacial Surgery Service of "Dr. Gustavo Aldereguía" Clinical and Surgical Teaching Hospital, in Cienfuegos, from January, 1990, to December, 1999. It was observed a predominance of females as well as of the age group over 60. The parotid gland was the most affected, whereas the pleomorphic salivary adenoma was the commonest. The adenoid cystic carcinoma was the most frequent in the group of carcinomas. Surgery was the main treatment used, followed by the surgical-radiant combination. Some drug therapy schemes were also analyzed.