[Fine-needle biopsy in tumor diagnosis of the head and neck region. A method for general practice]

During the last 4 years over 1500 thin-needle aspiration biopsies from tumors in the head and neck region were carried out in the University-ORL-Clinic of Würzburg. 306 cytological results were compared with the histological diagnoses. None of the benign tumors was classified cytologically as malignant (false positive = 0%). 84% of the malignancies were attached to the groups III, IV or V according to the so called Pap.-staging. The rest could not be detected by this method because of technical mistakes as well as accidental false punctions. Some types of tumors could be classified histogenetically in high percentage of cases, especially the pleomorphic adenoma of the glandula parotis and carcinoma metastases.