DIAGNOSTIC ACCURACY OF FINE NEEDLE ASPIRATION CYTOLOGY IN SALIVARY GLAND MASSES

Background: Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) is simple, safe, costeffective, and minimally invasive & out patient procedure to establish preliminarydiagnosis of salivary gland masses. Aim of the Study: To study the diagnostic accuracy of FNAC in salivary glandmasses by correlating with histopathology. Materials & Methods: It was a two year study conducted on 43 cases ofsalivary gland masses. The diagnostic accuracy of FNAC was calculated byconsidering histopathological diagnosis as gold standard. Results: Pleomorphic adenoma was the most common salivary gland lesion. In our study, sensitivity, specificity, Positive Predictive Value (PPV), NegativePredictive Value (NPV) & diagnostic accuracy of FNAC were 90.9%, 100%, 100%, 96.97% & 97.67%. One case in our study was diagnosed as pleomorphicadenoma on cytology which turned out to be adenoid cystic carcinoma onhistopathology. Conclusion: FNAC is a reliable diagnostic technique in establishing preliminary diagnosis of salivary gland masses.