Diagnostic value of fine-needle aspiration in head and neck lymphoma: a cross-sectional study.

The objective of this paper was that fine-needle aspiration (FNA) has become a well-liked modality in the diagnosis, staging, and follow-up of head and neck masses. Limited studies exist regarding the value of FNA in the diagnosis of head and neck masses. We aimed to evaluate the diagnostic value of head and neck lymphomas. This cross-sectional study method was performed in Imam Hospital and Cancer Institute affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences. In a 5 years period between January 2006 and June 2010, we enrolled all patients with cervical mass (es) who had undergone FNA as the primary diagnostic modality and then underwent biopsy (excisional or open). Results of FNA were compared with histopathological study as a gold standard method. Finally, 47 patients were recruited. It was found that FNA had a sensitivity of 88% (CI 95% = 79-97), a specificity of 81.2% (CI 95% = 70-92), a positive predictive value of 84.6% (CI 95% = 75-95), a negative predictive value of 85.7% (CI 95% = 77-95) and an accuracy of 85.1% (CI 95% = 75-95) in the diagnosis of head and neck lymphoma. We conclude that FNA has a considerable value in differentiation of head and neck lymphoma from non-lymphoma etiologies and is recommended as a screening test for the diagnosis of head and neck lymphoma.