Correlation Between Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) and Permanent Histopathology Results in Salivary Gland Masses

Abstract

Objective Fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) has been widely accepted as a diagnostic safe method for preoperative assessment of salivary gland lesions. This diagnostic tool is inexpensive, easy to perform, relatively painless and it provides useful information to differentiate between benign and malignant salivary gland tumors that helps in the management and surgical planning. This study was undertaken to compare FNAC results with permanent histopathological findings of salivary gland tumors in order to assess its diagnostic accuracy. Materials and methods A total of 37 archived salivary gland FNAC specimens collected between January 2001 and January 2018 were correlated with proven histopathology findings. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and diagnostic accuracy were calculated. False negative and false positive cases were determined. Results There were 20 female and 17 male patients. Parotid tumors count for 62.2% and submandibular tumors 37.8%. All cases of malignancy on FNAC were proven to be malignant on the final pathology findings. All cases that were suspicious for malignancy on FNAC were proven to be malignant as well. In addition, three false negative cases were seen and no false positive cases among all FNAC cases. In our series, the overall sensitivity and specificity were 90.3% and 100%, respectively. The positive and negative predictive values were 100% and 57.1%, respectively. The diagnostic accuracy was 91.4%. Conclusion This study demonstrated that FNA cytology of the salivary gland is a useful technique for diagnosis of salivary gland lesions. Insufficient cellularity was the most important factor that resulted in incorrect cytological interpretation.

Keywords: cytology; cytopathology; fine needle aspiration; salivary gland mass.