Diagnostic reliability of fine needle aspiration cytology against histopathology for the diagnosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma and oral leukoplakia.

AIM The purpose of this study was to determine the possibility of using fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) as a primary diagnostic test in oral leukoplakia and squamous cell carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS This study consisted of clinically diagnosed 15 cases of leukoplakia and 15 cases of oral squamous cell carcinomas. FNAC and biopsy were done on all the cases. A cytological and histopathological correlation was undertaken to determine the proportion of cancers. A 23-gauge sterile disposable needle was attached to a disposable syringe and introduced into the lesion at the proposed biopsy site in one movement. In leukoplakias, the center of the lesion or erythroplakic areas and, in squamous cell carcinomas, proliferative areas and edges of the ulcers were chosen. RESULTS In leukoplakia group, out of 15 biopsy samples, one (6.67%) sample was negative and 14 (93.33%) were positive. Whereas out of 15 FNAC samples, 14 (93.33%) were negative and one (6.67%) sample was positive. In squamous cell carcinoma, out of 15 biopsy samples, no sample was negative and all (100.00%) were positive. Whereas out of 15 FNAC samples, two (13.33%) were negative and 13 (86.67%) sample were positive. CONCLUSION It is noted that FNAC can be employed as a sound diagnostic tool for rapid diagnosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma. It may be particularly useful in cases, where formal biopsy procedure is difficult or contraindicated due to medical reasons or in cases of advanced malignancy. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE FNAC has been shown to be reliable and safe technique in the diagnosis of malignant in the head and neck. When the aspirations are performed by cytopathologists, it is easy to perform a rapid staining of the first smear and within 10 to 15 minutes to ensure that the material is sufficient and diagnosable and to suggest a preliminary diagnosis.