Abstract
Introduction: The head and neck masses are relatively common pathology. These head and neck masses are evaluated by clinical history and examination with the aid of investigations like FNAC, USG and CT of the region and excision biopsy. 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. Objectives: It is to assess the frequency and incidence of different sites, age, sex and distribution of inflammatory, benign and malignant lesions. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted at GMERS Medical College & Hospital, Junagadh, Gujarat from January 2018 to December 2018. Patients between the ages of 35days to 85 years were enrolled into the study. A total of 139 patients with a head and neck swelling underwent FNAC. Fine needle aspiration diagnosis was correlated with detailed clinical findings and investigations. Result: Out of 139 fine needle aspiration procedures 64.02% (89 cases) were of lymph node, 18.7% (26 cases) were of thyroid, 2.87% from salivary gland(04 cases), 12.94% (18 cases) from skin and soft tissue swellings. Out of total 139 lesions, 80 (57.55%) were inflammatory, 48 (34.53%) benign and09 (6.47%) were malignant and 02 (1.43%) were inconclusive. Conclusion: From our study we concluded that FNAC is simple, quick, inexpensive and minimally invasive first line investigation for differential diagnosis of head and neck masses.
Highlights
A swelling is the most likely clinical problem to be encountered in the head and neck region [1]
The common pathologies encountered in the head and neck region presenting as a lump are lymphadenitis, metastatic carcinoma, lymphoproliferative lesions, thyroid swellings, salivary gland swellings and the skin and soft tissue lesions like lipoma, epidermal cysts, benign adnexal tumours, etc
Statistical methods-Statistical method used was frequency distribution of various parameters using tables.Statistical Analysis was done and percentages were calculated for estimating frequency of various pathological conditions detected on FNAC in patients presenting with head and neck swellings
Summary
A swelling is the most likely clinical problem to be encountered in the head and neck region [1]. The evaluation of a neck mass is a common clinical dilemma and a condition to which clinicians routinely encounters. The differential diagnosis in a patient presenting with head and neck mass is often extensive and will vary with age, sex and site. These neck masses are evaluated by a detailed clinical history and examination with the aid of investigations like FNAC,USG and CT of the region and excisional biopsy. The common pathologies encountered in the head and neck region presenting as a lump are lymphadenitis (specific and non-specific, acute and chronic and reactive), metastatic carcinoma, lymphoproliferative lesions, thyroid swellings (goitre, nodules and cysts and carcinoma), salivary gland swellings (sialadenitis, adenomas and carcinomas) and the skin and soft tissue lesions like lipoma, epidermal (keratinous, dermoid) cysts, benign adnexal tumours, etc.
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