SPECTRUM OF FNAC IN PALPABLE HEAD AND NECK LESIONS IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL IN INDIA- A 3 YEARS STUDY

Background: Head and neck lesions encompass a multitude of congenital, inflammatory or neoplastic lesions including several anatomic sites and originating in different tissues and organs. Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is a simple, quick, feasible, cost effective and repeatable outpatient procedure with minimal risk of complication. Aim: 1. To evaluate the role of FNAC and its utility in diagnosis of palpable head neck masses. 2. To study the spectrum of head neck lesions in rural population. 3. To study diagnostic accuracy of FNAC by histopathological correlation wherever possible. Material and methods: The study included 288 patients presented with palpable head and neck swelling in a tertiary care hospital from January 2011 to December 2014. Detailed clinical history of patient was noted. Aspirations were done by using 10 ml syringe and 22/23 gauge needles. Smears were stained with PAP, Haematoxylin and eosin and Leishman stain. Cytomorphological diagnosis was given. Cyto-histopathological correlations were done wherever possible. Results: Out of 288 patients of head and neck lesions studied, lymph node (39.58%) was the predominant site aspirated with tubercular lymphadenitis being the commonest lesion. Thyroid lesions constituted 31.25 % followed by salivary gland (18.75%), soft tissue and miscellaneous (7.29%). FNAC was inconclusive in 3.12 % cases. Overall accuracy rate of FNAC was 93.02% with sensitivity of 81.81 % and specificity of 96.87 %. Conclusion: Though excisional biopsy is the gold standard for diagnosis of head and neck neoplastic lesion. FNAC is a rapid, cheap diagnostic tool now-a-days with overall accuracy rate more than 90 %.