TABLE 3:

Cytohistologic findings with CT-guided FNA

Cytologic DiagnosisNo. of Lesions
Malignant neoplasm
    Squamous cell carcinoma24
    Adenocarcinoma4
    Papillary carcinoma6
    Follicular neoplasm4
    Acinic cell carcinoma3
    Adenoid cystic carcinoma1
    Mucoepidermoid carcinoma*3
    Lymphoma1
    Melanoma2
    Chordoma2
    Metastatic disease4
Myeloma1
    Neuroendocrine tumor1
    Spindle cell malignancy3
    Synovial sarcoma1
    Low-grade sarcoma1
    Posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder1
    Undifferentiated carcinoma4
    Vasoformative neoplasm1
Benign neoplasm
    Multinodular goiter21
    Cyst10
    Follicular adenoma2
    Pleomorphic adenoma§14
    Monomorphic adenoma1
    Warthin tumor3
    Lipoma2
    Hurthle cell tumor3
    Paraganglioma3
    Giant cell tumor1
Granulation tissue2
Reactive lymph node7
No evidence of neoplasm44
Infection8
Inflammation7
Nondiagnostic study21
  • * One wrong diagnosis (abscess).

  • Renal cell, breast, or prostate carcinoma.

  • Colloid, hemorrhagic, or branchial cleft cyst.

  • § One wrong diagnosis (mucoepidermoid carcinoma).

  • Radiation change or fibrous, glandular, adipose, or muscular tissue with no tumor cells. Two wrong diagnoses (squamous cell carcinoma, schwannoma).