title: Fine needle aspiration cytology in superficial lymph nodes: an analysis of 266 cases.
abstract: The results of fine needle aspiration cytology of superficial lymph nodes in 275 patients are discussed. Nine cases were lost to follow-up. Of the remaining 266 aspirates, 152 were classified as cytologically malignant, 79 as benign, three as suspicious for malignancy, and 32 as unsatisfactory owing to scanty cellularity. The sensitivity of cytology for metastatic cancer was 96.5%. The results of aspiration biopsy from lymphomas were less accurate (67.5% sensitivity). There were no false positives and nine (11.3%) false negatives. Open biopsy of three suspect lymph nodes proved them to be malignant. The aspiration procedure is easy, safe and reliable. The diagnosis of benignity cannot, however, be determined without an open biopsy, particularly for lymphomas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Oncology and Outpatient Clinic, Istituto Nazionale per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Martelli
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pilotti
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lepera
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Piromalli
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bono
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Di Pietro
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Galante
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000473:pathology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000473:pathology*; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000473:pathology; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009382:Neoplasms, Unknown Primary / Q000473:pathology*