Abstract :
Introduction: Swellings in the Head and Neck region are very common and are evaluated with the help of a detailed clinical history, physical examination and investigations like FNAC, USG, CT scan or excisional biopsy. Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) is a simple, quick, inexpensive and minimally invasive OPD procedure used in the diagnosis of different swellings of Lymph nodes, thyroid, salivary gland and soft tissues in the Head and Neck region.
Aim: We did this study with the purpose of identifying the frequency and distribution of different pathologies found in FNAC done in patients presenting with a swelling in the Head and Neck region as per the site, age, sex and type of the lesion.
Materials and Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on the patients presenting with swelling in the Head and Neck region at the Pathology department of a tertiary care hospital between the duration of 1st August 2019 to 30th April 2021. FNAC was performed on total 260 patients.
Results: Out of 260 cases, 157 cases (60.4%) were from Lymph nodes, 50 cases (19.2%) from thyroid gland, 27 cases (10.3%) from skin and subcutaneous tissue, 23 cases (8.84%) from salivary gland and 3 cases (1.1%) were inconclusive due to inadequate material aspiration. 149 cases (57.98%) were inflammatory, 70 cases (27.24%) benign and 38 cases (14.78%) were found to be malignant.
Conclusion: FNAC is a simple, quick, inexpensive, minimally invasive OPD procedure and used as first line of investigation in the diagnosis of swellings in the Head and Neck region.
Keyword :
Fine needle aspiration cytology, Head and Neck, Inexpensive, Simple.