Fine needle aspiration in head and neck surgery.

The purpose of this article is to familiarize the reader with the use of fine needle aspiration (FNA) in head and neck surgery. The materials and method of performing FNA are described in detail. Three different areas are addressed: cervical lymph nodes, thyroid nodules, and salivary gland masses. The benefits and limitations of FNA are fully discussed. Early results were far from perfect, but increased exposure has greatly enhanced the accuracy of experienced pathologists. Current results show that FNA is a quick, inexpensive, and relatively painless procedure which in most cases shows excellent sensitivity and specificity. It often helps avoid surgery in benign disease and aids in surgical planning for malignant disease.