Analysis of FNAC in Palpable Head And Neck Lesions

Abstract

Introduction : FNAC is relatively painless, produces speedy results and cheap. FNAC differentiates non neoplastic lesions from neoplastic  lesions thus eliminating need  of  surgical intervention in these lesions which can be treated conservatively

Methods : This Retrospective analytical study was conducted within ethical standards. Data of 300 samples in 4 years was collected from randomly selected Pathological / Cytological / Histopathological Units. The patient profile included all inpatient as well outpatient samples received of those patients Both Outdoor as well as indoor patients with palpable head and neck swellings who were referred to cytology department.

Result : Maximum no. of patients were in the age group of 21-30 years(32.63%)  followed  by  31-40 years(20.83%) and least no. of patients were seen in age group of above 70 years. Out of 300 patients 170 (56.66%) were females and 130(43.34%) were males. Site wise distribution of head and neck FNAC [Table- 1] shows lymph nodes lesion as the predominant site of FNAC (39.33%)  followed  by thyroid lesions (30.66%), salivary glands (18.66%) and soft tissue (7.66%). FNAC was inconclusive in 11 (3.66%) cases.

Conclusion : FNAC is a rapid, cheap diagnostic tool now-a-days with overall accuracy rate more than  90  %  and diagnostic accuracy in differentiating non- neoplastic lesions from neoplastic lesions is well established.