The value of fine-needle aspiration biopsy in salivary gland tumors

Abstract

The aim of the study was to evaluate the utility of fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) in the salivary gland pathologies and to assess its capacity to provide accurate diagnosis and decide whether surgery is needed.A retrospective study: From April 1995 through November 2000, fine-needle aspiration biopsies (FNAB) were performed on 63 patients with salivary gland tumors; 4 of FNABs were inadequate. Of the remaining 59 FNAB diagnoses, 47 were checked histologically.Regarding the capacity to disseminate between malignant and benign tumors and non-neoplastic tumors, FNAB correctly diagnosed 39 lesions (39 true negative and 4 true positive and failed in one case). Our experience demonstrates the sensitivity rate of 80%, specificity of 92.86%, the positive predictive value of 57.14%, negative predictive value of 97.50% and the accuracy rate of 91.49%. The concurrence between cytologic diagnosis and subsequent histologic diagnosis was 82.98%. Patients of 17.02% were inconcurrent.FNAB is still valuable in the rapid diagnosis, staging, treatment and follow-up of patients with salivary gland masses.