Fine needle aspiration biopsy as a diagnostic method that guides the clinician and affects the treatment in parotid gland masses

ABSTRACT Objective: The aim of our study was to determine the specificity and sensitivity criteria of parotid fine needle aspiration biopsy in the diagnosis of parotid gland masses in our instution, and guide the physician by using FNAB before surgery. Study design: Retrospective chart review Methods: Retrospective analysis was conducted by comparing the fine needle aspiration biopsy results of 80 patients with complete data and postoperative histopathological diagnoses of 90 patients who underwent fine needle biopsy in our clinic between 2015 and 2022 and were subsequently operated. Correlation of preoperative FNB results to final surgical pathology was performed and measures of diagnostic accuracy computed. Results: Of all patients, 56.3% were male and 43.7 were female. The mean age was 48 (range 19-87). 56.2% of them were right-sided and 43.8% were left-sided. When the fine needle aspiration biopsies of the patients were examined, 47 were reported as benign (58.8%), 2 as malignant (2.5%), 21 as suspicious (26.3%), and 10 as insufficient (12.5%). Of 80 patients, 34 were diagnosed as pleomorphic adenoma, 14 as whartin tumor, and 7 as sialoadenitis. Conclusion: FNAB is one of the most important diagnostic tools in the diagnosis of parotid gland masses when applied knowing its advantages and given treatment without ignoring the deficiencies. It should be kept in mind that subtyping with FNAB in cases with malignant histopathological diagnosis will reduce the secondary surgical needs of the cases.