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Non-thyroid neck lumps: appraisal of the role of fine needle aspiration cytology

  • Head and Neck
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European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

To compare the non-diagnostic rate of fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) of non-thyroid neck lumps performed under ultrasound (US) guidance against non-guided FNAC (performed in outpatient clinic). Final histology results were compared with cytological diagnosis. We performed a retrospective study of 625 patients identified as having undergone FNAC of non-thyroid neck lumps from the pathology/radiology databases over a 3 year period. A total of 396 patients underwent non-ultrasound guided FNAC (12 excluded). 34% of patients had a non-diagnostic sample. A total number of 229 patients underwent ultrasound guided FNAC with a non-diagnostic rate of 12%. The Chi-squared test showed a significant difference (P < 0.001). FNAC results were compared with definitive histology in 238 patients. Sensitivity was 92% and specificity was 90%. US-guided FNAC resulted in a lower non-diagnostic rate. FNAC was highly sensitive for diagnosis of malignant lumps but less good at confirming a lump to be benign.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Joanne Lamont and Timothy Biggs, final year medical students for helping with the collection of data.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Singleton Hospital, Swansea NHS Trust, Sketty, Swansea, SA2 8QA, UK

    J. Addams-Williams, D. Watkins & C. Fielder

  2. Department of Radiology, Singleton Hospital, Swansea NHS Trust, Swansea, UK

    S. Owen

  3. Department of Pathology, Singleton Hospital, Swansea NHS Trust, Swansea, UK

    N. Williams

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  1. J. Addams-Williams
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  2. D. Watkins
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  3. S. Owen
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  4. N. Williams
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  5. C. Fielder
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Correspondence to J. Addams-Williams.

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Addams-Williams, J., Watkins, D., Owen, S. et al. Non-thyroid neck lumps: appraisal of the role of fine needle aspiration cytology. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 266, 411–415 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-008-0751-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-008-0751-4

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