[The value of fine-needle aspiration cytology for a practising otologist]

The results of 100 consecutive fine-needle punctures carried out in an otological practice are reviewed, discussed and compared with the literature. 93% diagnostic aspirates with negative predictive value of 0.97 and positive predictive value of 0.93 in histologically verified aspirates were obtained. It is concluded that fine-needle aspiration cytology is a very suitable method of investigation also in specialist practice.