OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effectiveness of FNAC in the diagnosis of parotid gland masses. METHODS Fine needle aspiration cytology was performed in 121 patients with parotid gland masses. Among them, 62 were males, 59 were females. Their age ranged from 5 to 95 years with an average age of 57.88 years. The cytological results were compared with postoperative histopathological results and follow-up outcomes. RESULTS The qualitative diagnostic accuracy of FNAC was 92.56% (112/121) and the overall diagnostic accuracy was 89.26%. The sensitivity for tumors was 91.25%, and the specificity was 100%. 7 patients were false negative with a false negative rate of 8.75%. The sensitivity and specificity for benign and malignant lesions was 70.97% and 100%, respectively. 9 patients were false negative with a false negative rate of 29.03%. There were no false positive cases, nor clinical complications. CONCLUSIONS FNAC plays an important role in the diagnosis of parotid gland masses. It is a cost-effective, safe, helpful and accurate tool for establishing tissue diagnosis as a primary investigative modality in the diagnosis of lesions in the parotid gland region with higher accuracy and fewer complications.