Fine needle aspiration biopsy in a diagnostic workup algorithm of salivary gland tumors

The ultrasonic diagnosis of salivary gland diseases can give a more accurate information than clinical data alone. In diagnosis of the parotid gland diseases, it is necessary to differentiate clearly tumors from other diseases. When a tumor is suspected, its presence should be confirmed, and determined if it is solitary, multiple, unilateral or bilateral, intra or extraglandular, and benign or malignant. In the period of May 1998 to January 2001 ultrasound examinations were performed in 354 patients, FNAB with ultrasound control were performed in 152 patients with a mean age of 49.7 years. The ultrasound and cytologic findings were correlated with surgical and histologic findings. Results indicate that in patients with solid mass of the salivary gland, ultrasound examination confirmed the finding of salivary gland tumor in all patients (100%). In non-solid diseases of salivary glands the diagnostic accuracy was slightly lower. The use of ultrasound techniques in the study of salivary gland pathology is well justified, due to its capacity to provide high resolution and improving clinical diagnosis. FNAB is a simple quick, accurate and virtually complications free investigative modality. The data on its ability to distinguish between lesions requiring surgery or not are encouraging.