The correlation between clinical prediagnosis and pathology results in the diagnosis of neck masses.

The importance of clinical assessment and its contribution to the diagnosis of neck masses was investigated in patients presenting with a neck mass. In our study, we collected the medical history of a total of 127 patients, including 66 males and 61 females, who presented with a neck mass. Physical exams, endoscopic examinations, laboratory tests, a variety of imaging studies, and fine-needle aspiration biopsies were performed. The relationship between age, duration and location of the neck mass, FNAB results, and definitive histopathological diagnosis were investigated as well as the correlation between the consensus diagnosis reached after the evaluation of the medical history, physical examination and imaging studies, and definitive histopathological diagnosis. A strong and positive relationship (p < 0.01) was found between patients' ages and the definitive diagnosis established by histopathological examination. There was no statistically significant relationship (p > 0.05) between the duration and location of the neck mass and definitive diagnosis established by histopathological examination. And no statistically significant relationship (p > 0.05) was found between FNAB results and definitive histopathological diagnosis. Although no statistically significant relationship was found between the characteristics of neck masses and age, duration and location of masses and FNAB results, there was a statistically significant correlation between the pre-diagnosis estimated by ENT specialists and definitive diagnosis established by histopathological examination. A strong and positive relationship (p < 0.01) was found between clinical pre-diagnosis and definitive diagnosis established by histopathological examination. In patients presenting with a neck mass, the diagnosis should be made based on the medical history, physical examination, radiologic imaging and FNAB results, treatment decisions should be based on those findings.