Parotid Gland Tumours: Our Experience

Salivary gland tumor comprises of approximately 3 to 10% of neoplasms of the head and neck region. Parotid gland is the most commonly involved salivary gland with an incidence of 62% followed by submandibular gland and other minor salivary gland tumors. However clinical course of benign and malignant tumors resemble each other in clinical findings, we require histopatholocal or cytological diagnosis for planning of management. To analyze parotid tumors retrospectively with following objectives. (1) Demographic distribution of parotid tumors. (2) To evaluate cytological and histopathological findings of parotid tumors. (3) Correlation of cytological and histopathological findings of parotid tumors. It was a retrospective observational study involving 31 patients who presented with parotid region swelling. Pre operative FNAC (fine needle aspiration cytology) and post operative histopathology were correlated. Surgical management depended on nature of disease. Correlation of FNAC and Histopathology: among 27 cases pre operative FNAC and post operative histopathology was same and in only 3 cases reports differed. One FNAC was inconclusive. In present study, Sensitivity of FNAC is 81.81%, Specificity is 94.73% and accuracy is 90%. FNAC is usually the first investigative modality, as it is a minimally invasive, cheap, OPD procedure that can differentiate benign from malignant tumors. Knowing preoperative pathological nature of disease can help in planning of surgical process.