TRANS-THORACIC FINE NEEDLE ASPIRATION CYTOLOGY - A STUDY OF 301 ASPIRATIONS FROM 221 CASES

  • 1 January 1982
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 26  (2) , 172-178
Abstract
The results of 301 aspirations using transthoracic fine needle cytology (FNAC), on 221 patients are presented with histologic hematologic or clinical correlations. Cytologically 127 cases were positive for malignancy. No false-positive diagnosis was made. Most cases reported as suspicious for or suggestive of malignancy were found to be malignant. In 23 cases (18%) the cytologic diagnosis of malignancy was made only upon repeated aspiration. Half of the cases reported as insufficient or negative on the 1st aspiration attempt were subjected to repeat aspirations, yielding representive samples in 57% of these cases. FNAC helped isolate cases of small-cell undifferentiated carcinoma and lymphoma as well as metastases from a group of patients presenting radiologic and clinical symptoms of malignancy and thus was instrumental in establishing proper treatment and preventing contraindicated surgery. In cases considered inoperable, where exfoliative cytology has failed, transthoracic FNAC rather than bronchoscopy, mediastinoscopy or thoracotomy should be applied.