Fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) for lesions of the salivary glands

• Published in: British journal of oral & maxillofacial surgery Vol. 38; no. 5; pp. 539 - 542
• Main Authors: Costas, A., Castro, P., Martı́n-Granizo, R., Monje, F., Marrón, C., Amigo, A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Londonc Elsevier Ltd 01.10.2000; Elsevier
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Biopsy, Needle - statistics & numerical data; Dentistry; Diagnosis, Differential; Ent. Stomatology; False Negative Reactions; False Positive Reactions; Humans; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Medical sciences; Non tumoral diseases; Otorhinolaryngology. Stomatology; Pathology. Cytology. Biochemistry. Spectrometry. Miscellaneous investigative techniques; Reproducibility of Results; Salivary Gland Diseases - pathology; Salivary Glands - pathology; Sensitivity and Specificity; Upper respiratory tract, upper alimentary tract, paranasal sinuses, salivary glands: diseases, semeiology; Performance evaluation; Correlation; Accuracy; Specificity; Etiology; False negative; ENT disease; Diagnosis; Benign neoplasm; Human; Statistical analysis; Stomatology; Aspiration; Exploration; Lymphoid hyperplasia; Inflammation; Malignant tumor; Differential diagnostic; Pathology; Sensitivity; Salivary gland disease; Fine needle; Cytopathology; Technique; Reliability
• ISSN: 0266-4356; 1532-1940
• DOI: 10.1054/bjom.2000.0465

We examined 112 fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) specimens of salivary glands (80 parotid and 32 submaxillary) taken between January 1989 and December 1995. Cytologic diagnoses were compared with the final histological diagnoses of the surgical specimens. The sensitivity and specificity were 84.8% and 93.7% respectively, and the accuracy was 91.1%. We conclude that FNAB by itself does not provide total security because of the high percentage of false-negatives. It is nevertheless useful when combined with an adequate clinical history, examination and radiological tests.