Abstract: Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of FNAC as a preoperative diagnostic tool of parotid masses. Methods The medical histories of 98 patients who had satisfactory preoperative FNAC and underwent subsequent surgery to the parotid between 2013 and 2016 at our institution were retrospectively analyzed, taking the final results of the histopathological diagnosis as the standard. Results The results of the FNAC were compared with the permanent histopathological diagnosis assays. Rates of accuracy of FNAC for parotid masses were, in turn, non-neoplasm (88.9%), benign tumor (74.0%) andmalignant tumor (56.3%). The sensitivity, specificty, positive predictive value and the nagtive predictive value of FNAC for non-neoplasm, 88.9%, 91.0%, 50.0%, 98.8%, respectively; for malignant tumor were 87.5%, 97.6%, 87.5%, 97.6%, respetively. Two false positive cases were cyst of parotid gland and pleomorphic adenoma. The false negative cases were malignant lymphoma of parotid. Conclusion FNAC is useful in the preoperative assessment of parotid masses and surgical planning. Ultrasound-guided puncture and biopsy，tissue biopsy for histologic examination and frozen section may be necessary for few misdiagnosed cases.

Key words: fine needle aspiration cytology, parotid masses, sensitivity, specificity, malignant lymphoma