title: Fine-needle aspiration of the mediastinum: a clinical, radiologic, cytologic, and histologic study of 42 cases.
abstract: Forty-two fine-needle aspirates (FNA) of the mediastinum were reviewed from 1984-1995. The clinical, radiologic, pathologic, and cytologic material was studied. Twenty-five males and 17 females had an age range from 10-72 yr and a mean of 41 yr. Common complaints were chest pain, dyspnea, and cough. Thirty-eight tumors were in the anterior/superior mediastinum. Fifty-seven percent were primary neoplasms (Hodgkin's lymphoma, 7; non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, 6; thymoma, 3; germ-cell tumor, 3; thymic carcinoid and angiosarcoma, 1 each; and malignant not otherwise specified, 3). Twenty-four percent were metastatic tumors (carcinoma, 9; and sarcoma, 1). Twelve percent were benign conditions (granulomatous disease, 2; multinodular goiter, 1; extramedullary hematopoesis, 1; and one thymic cyst). Seven percent were inconclusive. FNA yielded adequate tissue for diagnosis in 83% and a correct diagnosis in 86%. There was one false-negative and no false-positive diagnosis. FNA is a useful tool for accurate tissue diagnosis of mediastinal masses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, American University of Beirut, Lebanon. NS04@aub.edu.lb
authors.forename: N S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Shabb
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fahl
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Shabb
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Haswani
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zaatari
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D018237:Germinoma / Q000473:pathology; D006394:Hemangiosarcoma / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000473:pathology; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008479:Mediastinal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000556:secondary; D008482:Mediastinum / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D013945:Thymoma / Q000473:pathology