Evaluation of Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy and Histopathology Results in Salivary Gland Masses

Yunus Kantekin; Nuri Ünsal; Esra Dişbudak; Serap Bulut Çöbden; Altan Kaya; Mehmet Yaşar; Ali Bayram; İbrahim Özcan; Hatice Karaman

doi:10.26650/Tr-ENT.2025.1611147

Research Article

BibTex

RIS

Cite

Evaluation of Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy and Histopathology Results in Salivary Gland Masses

Year 2025, , 80 - 86, 11.06.2025

Yunus Kantekin , Nuri Ünsal , Esra Dişbudak , Serap Bulut Çöbden , Altan Kaya , Mehmet Yaşar , Ali Bayram , İbrahim Özcan , Hatice Karaman

https://doi.org/10.26650/Tr-ENT.2025.1611147

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy (FNAB) results with histopathological outcomes in salivary gland masses and to determine the sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of FNAB.

Methods: The study included 103 patients who underwent surgery for salivary gland masses between 2019 and 2022. FNAB was performed under ultrasound guidance, and the samples were examined. Preoperative FNAB results were classified as benign, malignant, or nondiagnostic and compared with the postoperative histopathological results.

Results: Of the patients included in the study, 48 (46.6%) were female and 55 (53.4%) were male. The most frequent FNAB was performed on the parotid gland, and histopathological results were reported as benign in 89 patients and malignant in 14 patients. The sensitivity of FNAB was found to be 80%, specificity 100%, positive predictive value 100%, and negative predictive value 97%. The nondiagnostic result rate was 6.8%.

Conclusion: FNAB is a safe, rapid, and cost-effective method for diagnosing salivary gland masses. The study demonstrates that FNAB provides high accuracy in the early detection of malignant tumours. However, false-negative results may occur in low-grade malignant tumours. The results demonstrate that the accuracy of FNAB varies depending on the pathologist’s experience and the quality of sampling.

Keywords

Biopsy, Needle, Parotid Gland, Salivary Glands, Submandibular Gland

Ethical Statement

Kayseri Şehir Hastanesi Klinik araştırmalar etik kurulu 776/03.01.2023

References

Wang H, Fundakowski C, Khurana JS, JhaLa N. Fine-NeedLe Aspiration BiopsY of SaLivarY GLand Lesions. Arch PathoL Lab Med 2015;139(12):1491-7. google scholar
Hanege FM, TuYsuz O, SakaLLiogLu O, ArsLan SoLmaz O. Diagnostic vaLue of preoperative fine needLe aspiration cYtoLogY in parotid gLand tumors. Diagn CYtopathoL 2020;48(11):1075-80. google scholar
Das DK, Petkar MA, AL-Mane NM, Sheikh ZA, MaLLik MK, Anim JT. RoLe of fine needLe aspiration cYtoLogY in the diagnosis of sweLLings in the saLivarY gLand regions: a studY of 712 cases. Med Princ Pract 2004;13(2):95-106. google scholar
ALphs HH, EiseLe DW, Westra WH. The roLe of fine needLe aspiration in the evaLuation of parotid masses. Curr Opin OtoLarYngoL Head Neck Surg 2006;14(2):62-6. google scholar
Contucci AM, Corina L, Sergi B, Fadda G, PaLudetti G. CorreLation between fine needLe aspiration biopsY and histoLogic findings in parotid masses. Acta OtorhinoLarYngoL ItaL 2003;23(4):314-8. google scholar
Rameeza A, HemaLata M. Fine-needLe aspiration cYtoLogY of saLivarY gLand Lesions. J OraL MaxiLLofac PathoL 2022;26(1):52-6. google scholar
Stewart CJ, MacKenzie K, McGarrY GW, Mowat A. Fine-needLe aspiration cYtoLogY of saLivarY gLand: a review of 341 cases. Diagn CYtopathoL. 2000;22(3):139-46. google scholar
Suzuki M, Kawata R, Higashino M, Nishikawa S, Terada T, Haginomori SI, et al. Values of fine-needle aspiration cytology of parotid gland tumors: A review of 996 cases at a single institution. Head Neck 2019;41(2):358-65. google scholar
Seyhun N, Doğan U, Çalış ZAB, Kaya MF, Hasçiçek SÖ, Turgut S. The role of fine needle aspiration biopsy in deep lobe parotid tumors: Comparison of preoperative cytology and postoperative histopathologic results. Am J Otolaryngol 2021;42(1):102590. google scholar
Zbaren P, Schar C, Hotz MA, Loosli H. Value of flne-needle aspiration cytology of parotid gland masses. Laryngoscope 2001;111(11 Pt 1):1989-92. google scholar
Gudmundsson JK, Ajan A, Abtahi J. The accuracy of fine-needle aspiration cytology for diagnosis of parotid gland masses: a clinicopathological study of 114 patients. J Appl Oral Sci 2016;24(6):561-7. google scholar
Ashraf A, Shaikh AS, Kamal F, Sarfraz R, Bukhari MH. Diagnostic reliability of FNAC for salivary gland swellings: a comparative study. Diagn Cytopathol 2010;38(7):499-504. google scholar
Tew S, Poole AG, Philips J. Fine-needle aspiration biopsy of parotid lesions: comparison with frozen section. Aust N Z J Surg 1997;67(7):438-41. google scholar
Lim CM, They J, Loh KS, Chao SS, Lim LH, Tan LK. Role of fine-needle aspiration cytology in the evaluation of parotid tumors. ANZ J Surg 2007;77(9):742-4. google scholar
Fikova A, Novak S, Kalfert D, Kuchar M, Zabrodsky M, Dostalova L, et al. Utility of fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) in parotid pleomorphic adenoma diagnosis and management. Biomed Pap Med Fac Univ Palacky Olomouc Czech Repub 2024;168(2):156-161. google scholar
Mayer M, Alfarra MM, Möllenhoff K, Engels M, Arolt C, Quaas A, et al. The Impact of Lesion-Specific and Sampling-Related Factors on Success of Salivary Gland Fine-Needle Aspiration Cytology. Head Neck Pathol 2025;19(1):1. google scholar
Fu Y, Sun Y, Pei Q, Han X, Qin W, Mei F, et al. Factors Influencing the Sample Adequacy of Ultrasound-Guided Fine-Needle Aspiration from Solid Thyroid Nodules for Liquid-Based Cytology: A Demographic, Sonographic, and Technical Perspective. Medicina (Kaunas) 2022;58(11):1639. google scholar
Balakrishnan K, Castling B, McMahon J, Imrie J, Feeley KM, Parker AJ, et al. Fine needle aspiration cytology in the management of a parotid mass: a two centre retrospective study. Surgeon 2005;3(2):67-72. google scholar