[The potentials of a cytological method for studying the lymph nodes in the neck]

Diagnostic potentialities of the cytologic method for the detection of local metastases on the neck were under study. Three groups of lymph nodes, characterized by different clinical manifestations, were distinguished: nonmetastatic nodes, nodes suspected for metastases, and nodes clinically identified as metastatic. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of the cytologic method for all these three groups have made up 87.6, 86, and 93.5%, respectively. Diagnostic errors occurred in only 6.5% of cases. In 20 patients (7.2%) the cytologic findings helped correct the previous erroneous clinical diagnosis.