[Evaluation of the fine needle aspiration biopsy in the presurgical diagnosis of tumors of the parotid gland].

The treatment ofparotid masses is generally surgery. The presurgical assesment is made by clinical examination, radiology and fine needle aspiration (FNA). FNA has been applied for the last decades and has been the subject of many reviews. It is a safe, rapid and economic procedure that can be made as an ambulatory procedure. In this study we have reviewed the parotidectomies performed in our institution during the years 1998 - 2003 where a preoperative FNA was available. The sensitivity of FNA in our hands is 40% and specifity 96.3%. We have also calculated the utility of clinical examination and radiology in the assessment of parotid masses.