Ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration cytology of head and neck masses: Experience in Ado-Ekiti, Southwestern Nigeria

Abstract

Background: A multidisciplinary approach to the evaluation of head and neck masses is crucial to achieving optimum patient care and enhancing diagnostic accuracy for definitive treatment. This is exemplified by the clinical and radiopathologic correlation of head and neck masses subjected to diagnostic evaluation using ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) in a tertiary health institution. Subjects and Methods: A prospective study was carried out on 51 patients with head and neck lesions referred to the FNAC Clinic of the Department of Anatomic Pathology of Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria. The study was conducted over a period of 2 years between February 2014 and January 2016. The FNAC was done under imaging guidance with a 7.5 MHz ultrasound probe. Clinical, radiological, and pathological findings were correlated. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 15. Results: The study population consisted of 12 (23.5%) males and 39 (76.5%) females. The age range was 2–80 years with a mean age of 44.7 ± 18.4 years. A significant proportion (80.4%) of the masses was located in the anterior neck. Multinodular goiter (n = 22, 43.1%) was the predominant clinical diagnosis. On ultrasonography, the predominant echotexture of the masses was heterogeneous (n = 29, 56.9%), only 4 (7.84%) of the masses had internal calcifications while the predominant composition of the masses was a mixture of solid and cystic portions (n = 30, 58.8%). There was a strong radiopathologic correlation (Spearman correlation value of 0.910). Conclusion: Ultrasound-guided FNAC of head and neck masses provides a synergistic approach to patient care and should be encouraged in our setting for optimum diagnostic yields.