Fine needle aspiration cytology as a diagnostic test for oral squamous cell carcinoma

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the possibility of using fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) as a primary diagnostic test in oral leukoplakia and squamous cell carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The sample consisted of 12 cases of oral leukoplakia and 60 cases of oral squamous cell carcinoma. FNAC and biopsy was done on all cases. A cytological and histopathological correlation was undertaken to determine the proportion of cancers that can be accurately diagnosed by FNAC and its ability to identify differentiation gradings of squamous cell carcinomas. A blind examination was undertaken. RESULTS: In oral leukoplakias equal rates of true positive and false negative results were obtained. The overall positive correlation accounted for 33.33% with 33.33% inadequate FNACs. In oral squamous cell carcinomas 92.85% of true positive and 7.14% of false negative results were obtained. The differentiation gradings correlated in only 41.07%. The overall positive correlation was 86.66% with 6.66% inadequate FNACs. CONCLUSIONS: The present study indicates that FNAC can be used as a reliable diagnostic test for oral squamous cell carcinoma but its use in oral leukoplakia is of limited value.