COMPARISON OF CELL BLOCKS AND SMEAR EXAMINATION WITH FINE NEEDLE ASPIRATES IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF SUPERFICIAL PALPABLE HEAD AND NECK LESIONS

OBJECTIVE: To compare the findings of cell blocks and smear examination with fine needle aspirates (FNA) in diagnosis superficial palpable head neck lesions taking histopathology as gold standard. METHODS: This cross-sectional comparative study was conducted at Pakistan Institute Medical Sciences, Islamabad Basic Khyber University, Peshawar. Eighty patients all age groups, having clinically region were recruited from August 2014 to 2015. FNA cytology, block open biopsy performed cases compared histopathological examination. The data recorded a proforma analyzed through SPSS Version-23. RESULTS: Out 80 patients, 44 (55%) males 36 (45%) females. ranged 01-81 years mean 45.68±20.43 years. Lesions involving lymph nodes (n=31; 38.8%) salivary gland (n=24; 30%) common region. Tuberculosis (n=15: 48.38%) pleomorphic adenoma (n=13; 54.16%) glands respectively. Overall, 49 (61.2%) benign/reactive 31 (38.8%) malignant on histopathology. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value negative 74.2%, 95.9%, 92% & 85.5% for smears 83.9%, 98%, 96.3% 90.6% Cell Block respectively diagnosing lesions. CONCLUSION: better diagnostic accuracy can be used adjunct