Diagnostic adequacy and accuracy of surgeon-performed ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration in lateral neck masses.

Abstract

Surgeon-performed ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration (SUS-FNA) reduces the time to diagnosis and treatment of head and neck pathology. Although it has been validated in the investigation of thyroid pathology, there is a paucity of evidence to support its use in lateral neck masses. This study aims to determine the accuracy and adequacy of SUS-FNA in the investigation of lateral neck masses. A retrospective cohort analysis was performed of patients who underwent a SUS-FNA for lateral neck mass between June 2018 and October 2022 at a single institution. Pathologist reports were reviewed to determine the rate of FNA sample adequacy. A comparison was made between FNA cytology results and final histopathological diagnosis following surgical excision in a subset of patients to determine FNA accuracy. A total of 110 SUS-FNAs were performed on lateral neck masses. Diagnostic adequacy of SUS-FNA was determined to be 91% (100/110). When analysing the subset of patients who proceeded to surgical excision, the diagnostic accuracy of SUS-FNA was determined to be 88% (38/43). SUS-FNA results in high adequacy rates with good diagnostic accuracy in the investigation of lateral neck masses. This tool has great potential in reducing treatment delay in the management of head and neck cancer.