Evaluation of fine needle aspiration cytology [FNAC] in diagnosis of head and neck swellings in Bab Elsheria Hospital

FNAC is believed to be of great benefit as an alternative diagnostic approach to lesions in Head and Neck region. This study aims at evaluating the results of FNAC undertaken in Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery Department, Bab Elsheria Hospital in relation to the International big series. This is a retrospective study of 42 cases with FNACs performed between September 2004 and April 2006. All patients had both FNAC and Histology done. Patients were classified into 3 groups according to the site of their swellings: [parotid, thyroid and others]. The origin of the swellings in this series was 48% from the parotid gland, 19% from the thyroid gland and 33% from other sites. The first FNAC was only diagnostic in 21 patients [50%]. While the 2nd FNAC was diagnostic in 8 patients out of 15 [53.3%]. The majority of swellings with positive findings on FNAC in 29 patients had matched the histology results [68.9%]. So, the chances of getting diagnosis were about 50% in either first or second FNAC. The FNAC sensitivity was 69% and its specificity was 80%, which lags behind the International big series. We need to improve our FNAC results to be compared with the results of International big series