3
7. Fine needle
aspiration
Clinicians should perform fine needle aspiration
(FNA) instead of open biopsy, or refer the patient
to someone who can perform FNA, for patients
with a neck mass deemed at increased risk for
malignancy when the diagnosis of the neck mass
remains uncertain.
S
8. Cystic masses For patients with a neck mass deemed at increased
risk for malignancy, clinicians should continue
evaluation of patients with a cystic neck mass, as
determined by FNA or imaging studies, until a
diagnosis is obtained and should not assume the
mass is benign.
R
9. Ancillary tests Clinician should obtain additional ancillary
tests based on the patient's history and physical
examination when a patient with a neck mass is
at increased risk for malignancy and/or does not
have a diagnosis aer FNA and imaging.
R
10. Examination
under anesthesia
of the upper
aerodigestive
tract before open
biopsy
Clinicians should recommend examination of the
upper aerodigestive tract under anesthesia, before
open biopsy, for patients with a neck mass who
are at increased risk for malignancy and without
a diagnosis or primary site identified, with FNA,
imaging, and/or ancillary tests.
R
Table 1. Summary of Guideline Key Action Statements (KAS)
(cont'd)
Statement Action Strength
