Head and Neck

Fine needle aspirates (FNAs) of the head and neck can be divided into five categories: Thyroid, salivary gland, lymph nodes, skin, and bone/soft tissue. The vast majority of mass lesions in the head and neck are benign; however, 5 % of pediatric neoplasms occur in head and neck region. In the thyroid, the majority of lesions are benign; however, in comparison with adults, there is a higher rate of malignancy in the pediatric population. Salivary gland lesions in children and adolescents consist predominantly of pleomorphic adenoma, followed by mucoepidermoid carcinoma and acinic cell carcinoma. Skin lesions in the head and neck include cysts, inflammatory processes, and vascular malformations. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is a rare epithelial tumor that is associated with Epstein–Barr virus infection and often presents at a high stage in children. Bone and soft tissue are discussed briefly with emphasis on lesions that are prominent in the head and neck including Langerhans cell histiocytosis and rhabdomyosarcoma. Given the wide range of diagnostic possibilities, an FNA can be very helpful in delineating the type of lesion, and thereby guide management, with minimal risk to these patients.