Abstract

CACERES-PUERTO, María; PORRAS-ALSONSO, Eulalia  and  SALOM-COVENAS, Carmen. Parotid gland tumors: diagnostic accuracy of fine needle aspiration cytology, imaging studies and histopathological findings. Rev. ORL [online]. 2023, vol.14, n.2, e29977.  Epub Mar 04, 2024. ISSN 2444-7986.  https://dx.doi.org/10.14201/orl.29977.

Introduction and objective: Our aim is to establish the profitability of cytological diagnosis by fine needle aspiration (FNA) and the usefulness of preoperative imaging in the management of parotid masses. Method: A retrospective study of a sample of 142 patients with parotid tumors operated on by the HUPR Otorhinolaryngology Service in the last 10 years, with preoperative radiological (ultrasound, CT, MRI) and cytological diagnosis, by FNA, was carried out. The results of both tests have been classified as positive or negative for malignancy and were compared with the pathological diagnosis. Results: The average age was 56, 61.3% were men. FNA had a sensitivity to detect malignancy of 75% and a specificity of 100%; with positive and negative predictive values (NPV) of 100 and 97%, respectively. The sensitivity of the radiological study was 25%, and the specificity 99%. The positive predictive value for malignancy was 80%, and the negative predictive value was 89%. Conclusions: FNA is a simple test, but of limited utility for diagnostic orientation due to its low sensitivity and high false negatives; however, its high specificity and high NPV make it a more accurate test against a benign or negative result. The previous radiological study is useful in the diagnosis of tumor extension and characteristics, although it is limited by itself in the differential diagnosis of malignancy. MRI has become the imaging modality of choice.

Keywords : parotid gland; parotid neoplasms; fine needle aspiration puncture; radiological correlation; cytological correlation.

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