Discrepancy of target sites between clinician and cytopathological reports in head neck fine needle aspiration: Did I miss the target or did the clinician mistake the organ site?

摘要: The diagnostic accuracy of fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) head and neck lesions is relatively high, but cytologic interpretation might be confusing if the sample lacking typical features according to labeled site by physician. These errors may have an impact on pathology search engines, healthcare costs or even adverse outcomes. archive database multiple institutions in southern Iran Australia covering period 2001–2011, were searched using keywords: salivary gland, head, neck, FNAC, cytology. All extracted reports reviewed. which showed discordance between clinician's impression organ involved subsequent biopsy request, eventual cytological diagnosis selected. was confirmed histology cell block, with assistance from imaging, clinical outcome, physical examination, molecular studies, microbiological culture. total number 10,200 superficial FNAC included study, 48 cases clinicians request actual pathology. Apart histopathology, history, immunohistochemical microbiologic culture testing helped finalize target 23, 6, 7, 8, 2, 1 respectively. commonest discrepancies for “salivary gland” [total: 20 final in: bone (7), soft tissue (5), lymph node (3), odontogenic (3) skin (2)], “lymph node” 12 (1) brain (1)], “soft tissue” 11 (2), gland (1), ocular region (1)] “skin” 5 (1)]. primary physician requesting are incorrect their nearly 0.5 percent cases, due overlapping imaging findings possibly inadequate history taking examination.