Preoperative cytology in the management of parotid neoplasms

BACKGROUND: This study evaluates the diagnostic role of preoperative cytology of parotid neoplasms. The method is particularly useful in the evaluation of the parotid diseases in which the same clinical features may be treated variously. Fine-needle aspiration biopsy is a simple and well-tolerated diagnostic tool, which provides accurate information for diagnosis and follow-up of the disease. The accuracy of the method partly depends on the operator skill. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From a series of 452 subjects who underwent parotidectomy, preoperative cytological evaluation was available in 310 and compared with histological diagnosis in a retrospective review. RESULTS: The agreement between histotype determination using fine-needle aspiration biopsy and final histological diagnosis was 79%, specificity was 100%, sensitivity was 83%, and diagnostic accuracy was 97%. CONCLUSION: These findings demonstrated that, given the low complication rate, preoperative cytology is particularly useful in diagnosing parotid disease and in planning the surgical strategy and approach.