Tumor marker measurements of cells in a fine needle used for aspiration cytology.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether the needle washing could yield sufficient cells for tumor marker (TM) measurements as an ancillary technique to ensure the accuracy of fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) of tumors.


METHODS
After obtaining preliminary data that aspirated tumor cells within a 22-gauge needle could be collected by washing it with distilled water for TM measurements, we studied tumor cell numbers and TM values obtained by washing a 22-gauge needle directly after tumor aspiration and another needle after FNAC.


RESULTS
Using 8 resected hepatobiliary and pancreatic carcinomas, the used needles yielded 16.8+/-10.5 x 10(4) cells per milliliter. Used needles from 6 adenocarcinomas expelled 479.2+/-406.5 ng/mL of carcinoembryonic antigen, and 6,561.3+/-5,713.1 ng/mL of CA 19-9, while the needles from 2 hepatomas showed normal values of those markers.


CONCLUSIONS
A needle used for FNAC contains sufficient cells for TM measurements, which can be ancillary to the differential diagnosis.
Akimaru
Koho
K
First Department of Surgery, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan. akimaru@nms.ac.jp
Yokomuro
Shigeki
S
Aimoto
Takayuki
T
Yoshida
Hiroshi
H
Uchida
Eiji
E
Tajiri
Takashi
T
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000592:standards*; D018395:CA-19-9 Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology; D002452:Cell Count; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004067:Digestive System Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018395:CA-19-9 Antigen; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen