Use of fine-needle aspiration cytology in the diagnosis of parotid neoplasms

Clinical diagnostic utility of ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration biopsy in parotid masses

BACKGROUND

Fine needle aspiration (FNA) is a common diagnostic tool used in the initial evaluation of parotid masses. In the literature, variable diagnostic accuracy of FNA is reported. Therefore, when considering clinical management of these patients, the utility of FNA is unclear. The aim of this study was to determine the capability of ultrasound-guided FNA to differentiate between benign and malignant neoplasms. Further, the way in which FNA results affect clinical decision-making was assessed.

METHODS

Retrospective data were collected for all patients who underwent parotidectomy at a large Canadian tertiary care center between 2011 and 2016. Patient demographics, preoperative imaging reports, preoperative FNA results, and final pathological diagnosis were analyzed.

RESULTS

Of the 199 patients who underwent parotidectomy, 184 had preoperative ultrasound-guided FNA. There were a total of 13 non-diagnostic FNAs. In diagnosing malignancy, FNA had a sensitivity and specificity of 71.4% and 98.7%, respectively. The positive predictive value (PPV) was 83.3%. The negative predictive value was 97.5%. Of the non-diagnostic FNAs, 2 out of 13 (15.4%) were deemed malignant neoplasms on final pathology.

CONCLUSION

FNA is a useful adjunct in the work-up of parotid masses, but it should be used with caution. Due to limited sensitivity, it should not be relied upon as the sole determinant of a surgeon's management plan.

Ability for fine needle aspiration and frozen section to predict extent of parotidectomy

INTRODUCTION

Several diagnostic modalities with various sensitivity and specificities can be used to evaluate a parotid mass. The aims of this project were to compare the diagnostic actionability, accuracy, and ability to accurately predict extent of surgery for FNA and frozen section during the evaluation of a parotid mass.

METHODS

A retrospective chart review of patients who underwent parotidectomy for a parotid mass from January 1, 2015 to January 30, 2022 was conducted. Actionability was defined as a pathology diagnosis or the histologic grade of a lesion, as this provided clear and useful information for the surgeon to act upon. Diagnostic accuracy was determined by comparing FNA and frozen section results to final pathology. Accuracy of extent of surgery was determined by comparing predicted extent of surgery from the FNA or frozen section result to the extent of surgery predicted by the final pathology.

RESULTS

A total of 626 patients were included in this study. FNA was obtained in 396 (63%) patients, while all neoplasms were evaluated by frozen section analysis. FNA diagnosis was actionable in 318 (80%), while frozen section diagnosis was actionable in 616 (98%) patients. Exactly 294 (92.5%) FNA diagnoses were accurate compared with 600 (98%) frozen section diagnoses. The FNA diagnosis predicted appropriate extent of surgery in 294 (74%) while the frozen section diagnosis predicted appropriate extent of surgery in 600 (96%). Among the 396 patients with FNA, frozen section was significantly more likely to accurately predict appropriate extent of surgery compared with FNA (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Frozen section is more likely to yield actionable and accurate results compared with FNA. Additionally, frozen section is better than FNA in predicting the appropriate extent of surgery.

Diagnostic accuracy of ultrasonography-guided core needle biopsy of parotid gland neoplasms: A large, single-institution experience in United Kingdom

Salivary gland tumours present a pleomorphic and complex morphology and, apart from the most common neoplasms with well-established histopathological criteria, may create diagnostic difficulty for histopathologists. The majority of salivary gland tumours occur in the parotid gland and the use of ultrasound guided parotid biopsy (US-PB) has increased. US-PB in contrast with fine needle aspiration (FNA), which is an easy and relatively painless technique, is performed under local anaesthesia, usually by radiologists. US-PB offers some advantages over the FNA such as tumour grading and the possibility of performing immunohistochemistry. We report our experience of the diagnostic value of US-PB in a large, referral centre in the United Kingdom.

Management of Salivary Gland Malignancy: ASCO Guideline

PURPOSE

To provide evidence-based recommendations for practicing physicians and other healthcare providers on the management of salivary gland malignancy.

METHODS

ASCO convened an Expert Panel of medical oncology, surgical oncology, radiation oncology, neuroradiology, pathology, and patient advocacy experts to conduct a literature search, which included systematic reviews, meta-analyses, randomized controlled trials, and prospective and retrospective comparative observational studies published from 2000 through 2020. Outcomes of interest included survival, diagnostic accuracy, disease recurrence, and quality of life. Expert Panel members used available evidence and informal consensus to develop evidence-based guideline recommendations.

RESULTS

The literature search identified 293 relevant studies to inform the evidence base for this guideline. Six main clinical questions were addressed, which included subquestions on preoperative evaluations, surgical diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, appropriate radiotherapy techniques, the role of systemic therapy, and follow-up evaluations.

RECOMMENDATIONS

When possible, evidence-based recommendations were developed to address the diagnosis and appropriate preoperative evaluations for patients with a salivary gland malignancy, therapeutic procedures, and appropriate treatment options in various salivary gland histologies.Additional information is available at www.asco.org/head-neck-cancer-guidelines.

Regarding the "Is Surgery an Inevitable Treatment for Advanced Salivary Lymphoepithelial Carcinoma? Three Case Reports"

Salivary lymphoepithelial carcinoma is a highly radiosensitive tumor that suggests the effectiveness of induction chemotherapy and induction concurrent chemoradiotherapy without previous surgery. However, the imperfection of diagnostic methods and the severe consequences of misdiagnosis of the tumor do not allow to resign from surgical treatment in patients with this type of salivary gland tumor.

A Study of Clinicopathological Profile of Salivary Gland Swellings

Salivary gland diseases usually present as a swelling of the affected gland. These lesions are commonly encountered in day to day practice. A salivary gland swelling can present in a variety of locations, depending on the salivary gland affected. The purpose of the study is to know the incidence of salivary gland swellings and the usefulness of FNAC in evaluating these swellings. The present study is a time bound prospective study of fifty consecutive cases of salivary gland swellings admitted in our hospital during the period November 2014-August 2016. Most of the patients underwent pre-operative work up with FNAC and patients indicated for surgery underwent surgery and HPE. Salivary gland swelling occurred more commonly in 3rd decade of life and equal number of cases were seen in both genders. Most of the patients presented with salivary gland swelling (98%). 21 (42%) were non neoplastic, 29 (58%) were neoplastic swellings, 18 (36%) were benign of which pleomorphic adenoma was the most common and 11 (22%) were malignant of which adenoid cystic carcinoma was the most common. Parotid gland was the most common gland involved. Fine needle aspiration cytology was highly sensitive for benign tumours and highly specific for malignant tumours. FNAC should be first choice of investigation in evaluating the salivary gland pathologies. Early diagnosis and subsequent appropriate management carries good prognosis.

Bilateral Synchronous Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma of the Parotid Gland

Mucoepidermoid carcinoma is the most common malignant tumor of the parotid; however, its synchronous occurrence in both of the parotid glands is extremely rare. Herein, we presented a case of 53-year-old man with bilateral synchronous mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the parotid gland treated with surgery.

The patient mainly complained of a painless mass in the left parotid gland. A mass located in the right parotid gland was incidentally detected by imaging. Based on cytopathology, left total parotidectomy was performed while preserving the facial nerve with ipsilateral neck dissection, and 5 weeks later, right superficial parotidectomy was performed. At the 3-year follow-up, there was no recurrence in the parotid regions and the neck.

A detailed examination for parotid masses is suggested for identifying possible occult synchronous tumors in the contralateral side or in other salivary glands. A close follow-up is also recommended for the risk of future occurrence of metachronous tumors.

Application of Sal classification to parotid gland fine-needle aspiration cytology: 10-year retrospective analysis of 312 patients

BACKGROUND

The accuracy of fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) is controversial in parotid tumors. We aimed to compare FNAB results with the final histopathological diagnosis and to apply the "Sal classification" to our data and discuss its results and its place in parotid gland cytology.

METHODS

The FNAB cytological findings and final histological diagnosis were assessed retrospectively in 2 different scenarios based on the distribution of nondefinitive cytology, and we applied the Sal classification and determined malignancy rate, sensitivity, and specificity for each category.

RESULTS

In 2 different scenarios FNAB sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) were found to be 81%, 87%, 54.7%, and 96.1%; and 65.3%, 100%, 100%, and 96.1%, respectively. The malignancy rates and sensitivity and specificity were also calculated and discussed for each Sal category.

CONCLUSION

We believe that the Sal classification has a great potential to be a useful tool in classification of parotid gland cytology.

[Cyto-histological correlation in the management of parotid gland tumors: A retrospective study of 160 cases]

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this study was to correlate the cytological and histological results and evaluate the diagnostic performance of fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) in the management of parotid gland tumors.

METHODS

This retrospective study included 160 patients with a parotid gland tumor who underwent fine-needle aspiration and parotidectomy surgery between January 2005 and August 2016 at the Limoges university hospital center.

RESULTS

On 160 fine-needle aspirations performed, fine-needle aspiration diagnoses were: 77 benign lesions, 35 malignant lesions and 48 non-diagnostic cases. Final histological diagnosis revealed there were 113 benign lesions and 47 malignant lesions. A hundred and one cytological diagnoses were accurate over 112 contributive fine-needle aspirations: seven false-negative cases and 4 false-positive cases were observed. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were 82, 95 and 90% respectively for fine-needle aspiration, and 83, 95 and 92% respectively for association of fine-needle aspiration and magnetic resonance imaging. Diagnostic concordance between fine-needle aspiration and final histology for malignant lesions was 78%. A greater number of contributive fine-needle aspirations was observed among experimented operators.

DISCUSSION

Fine-needle aspiration is a reliable, safe and effective diagnostic tool that allows good differentiation between malignant and benign diagnosis in the preoperative management of parotid gland tumors. The association of fine-needle aspiration and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can improve diagnostic performance.