Utility of clinical features with fine needle aspiration biopsy for diagnosis of Warthin tumor

Abstract Background Conservative management of Warthin tumor (WT) may be a viable alternative to surgery, but there are concerns of missed malignancies on fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB). The purpose of this study is to measure the sensitivity and positive predictive value of FNAB for WT, and t...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Thomas So, Axel Sahovaler, Anthony Nichols, Kevin Fung, John Yoo, Michele M. Weir, S. Danielle MacNeil
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publishing 2019-08-01
Series:Journal of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
Subjects:
Online Access:http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40463-019-0366-3
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850283503289106432
author Thomas So
Axel Sahovaler
Anthony Nichols
Kevin Fung
John Yoo
Michele M. Weir
S. Danielle MacNeil
author_facet Thomas So
Axel Sahovaler
Anthony Nichols
Kevin Fung
John Yoo
Michele M. Weir
S. Danielle MacNeil
author_sort Thomas So
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Conservative management of Warthin tumor (WT) may be a viable alternative to surgery, but there are concerns of missed malignancies on fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB). The purpose of this study is to measure the sensitivity and positive predictive value of FNAB for WT, and to identify clinical features associated with WT that can aid in this diagnosis. Methods Retrospective analysis of patients from January 1, 2006 to April 30, 2017 at a tertiary care center in London, Ontario, Canada. All patients with a diagnosis of WT on FNAB or resection were included. Electronic medical records were identified for 177 patients that fit the criteria. Study outcomes included the sensitivity and positive predictive value of FNAB alone for WT, and, when including clinical features associated with WT. Results The mean age of patients in this study was 63.2 years (SD 10.4); 115 (65%) were male, and 157 (89%) were past or present smokers. The measured sensitivity and positive predictive value of FNAB for WT were 95.8 and 97.2% respectively. Two cases were classified as WT on FNAB but confirmed at resection as mucoepidermoid carcinoma and acinic cell carcinoma. When only patients with multifocal, bilateral or incidental tumors were assessed, sensitivities and positive predictive values for each were 100%. Isolating for inferior pole location also resulted in a positive predictive value of 100%. Conclusions The sensitivity and positive predictive value of FNAB for WT in this study are high, with two false negatives on FNAB. Multifocal, bilateral, incidentaloma and inferior pole location were identified as potential clinical features that may increase the diagnostic confidence for WT, strengthening the argument for conservative management in these patients. Overall, this study serves as an initial exploration into whether clinical features may be included with FNAB results to improve the sensitivity and positive predictive value of diagnosing WT. Further research is necessary before these findings can be translated into clinical practice.
format Article
id doaj-art-b60faf1062d84a9899f9339b56b51733
institution OA Journals
issn 1916-0216
language English
publishDate 2019-08-01
publisher SAGE Publishing
record_format Article
series Journal of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
spelling doaj-art-b60faf1062d84a9899f9339b56b517332025-08-20T01:47:45ZengSAGE PublishingJournal of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery1916-02162019-08-014811510.1186/s40463-019-0366-3Utility of clinical features with fine needle aspiration biopsy for diagnosis of Warthin tumorThomas So0Axel Sahovaler1Anthony Nichols2Kevin Fung3John Yoo4Michele M. Weir5S. Danielle MacNeil6Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western UniversityDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Western University and London Health Sciences CentreDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Western University and London Health Sciences CentreDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Western University and London Health Sciences CentreDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Western University and London Health Sciences CentreDepartment of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Western University and London Health Sciences CentreDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Western University and London Health Sciences CentreAbstract Background Conservative management of Warthin tumor (WT) may be a viable alternative to surgery, but there are concerns of missed malignancies on fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB). The purpose of this study is to measure the sensitivity and positive predictive value of FNAB for WT, and to identify clinical features associated with WT that can aid in this diagnosis. Methods Retrospective analysis of patients from January 1, 2006 to April 30, 2017 at a tertiary care center in London, Ontario, Canada. All patients with a diagnosis of WT on FNAB or resection were included. Electronic medical records were identified for 177 patients that fit the criteria. Study outcomes included the sensitivity and positive predictive value of FNAB alone for WT, and, when including clinical features associated with WT. Results The mean age of patients in this study was 63.2 years (SD 10.4); 115 (65%) were male, and 157 (89%) were past or present smokers. The measured sensitivity and positive predictive value of FNAB for WT were 95.8 and 97.2% respectively. Two cases were classified as WT on FNAB but confirmed at resection as mucoepidermoid carcinoma and acinic cell carcinoma. When only patients with multifocal, bilateral or incidental tumors were assessed, sensitivities and positive predictive values for each were 100%. Isolating for inferior pole location also resulted in a positive predictive value of 100%. Conclusions The sensitivity and positive predictive value of FNAB for WT in this study are high, with two false negatives on FNAB. Multifocal, bilateral, incidentaloma and inferior pole location were identified as potential clinical features that may increase the diagnostic confidence for WT, strengthening the argument for conservative management in these patients. Overall, this study serves as an initial exploration into whether clinical features may be included with FNAB results to improve the sensitivity and positive predictive value of diagnosing WT. Further research is necessary before these findings can be translated into clinical practice.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40463-019-0366-3Warthin tumorFine needle aspiration biopsyResectionSensitivityPositive predictive valueClinical features
spellingShingle Thomas So
Axel Sahovaler
Anthony Nichols
Kevin Fung
John Yoo
Michele M. Weir
S. Danielle MacNeil
Utility of clinical features with fine needle aspiration biopsy for diagnosis of Warthin tumor
Journal of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
Warthin tumor
Fine needle aspiration biopsy
Resection
Sensitivity
Positive predictive value
Clinical features
title Utility of clinical features with fine needle aspiration biopsy for diagnosis of Warthin tumor
title_full Utility of clinical features with fine needle aspiration biopsy for diagnosis of Warthin tumor
title_fullStr Utility of clinical features with fine needle aspiration biopsy for diagnosis of Warthin tumor
title_full_unstemmed Utility of clinical features with fine needle aspiration biopsy for diagnosis of Warthin tumor
title_short Utility of clinical features with fine needle aspiration biopsy for diagnosis of Warthin tumor
title_sort utility of clinical features with fine needle aspiration biopsy for diagnosis of warthin tumor
topic Warthin tumor
Fine needle aspiration biopsy
Resection
Sensitivity
Positive predictive value
Clinical features
url http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40463-019-0366-3
work_keys_str_mv AT thomasso utilityofclinicalfeatureswithfineneedleaspirationbiopsyfordiagnosisofwarthintumor
AT axelsahovaler utilityofclinicalfeatureswithfineneedleaspirationbiopsyfordiagnosisofwarthintumor
AT anthonynichols utilityofclinicalfeatureswithfineneedleaspirationbiopsyfordiagnosisofwarthintumor
AT kevinfung utilityofclinicalfeatureswithfineneedleaspirationbiopsyfordiagnosisofwarthintumor
AT johnyoo utilityofclinicalfeatureswithfineneedleaspirationbiopsyfordiagnosisofwarthintumor
AT michelemweir utilityofclinicalfeatureswithfineneedleaspirationbiopsyfordiagnosisofwarthintumor
AT sdaniellemacneil utilityofclinicalfeatureswithfineneedleaspirationbiopsyfordiagnosisofwarthintumor