Fine needle aspiration cytology of anterior mediastinal masses.
OBJECTIVE
The main aim of the study is to evaluate the computed tomography (CT)-guided fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) of anterior mediastinal mass as a diagnostic procedure.


METHODS
In all 135 cases, the material was obtained by CT-guided FNAC technique followed by staining with Papanicolaou and May-Grunwald-Giemsa stains. The histological material was obtained by needle biopsies, wedge biopsies and resection specimens. Immunohistochemical stains were used to confirm diagnosis in selected cases.


RESULTS
Among 135 cases, cytohistology correlation was found in 92 cases. Correct typing was done in 53.33% cases. No correlation was found in 14.81% cases. Material was unsatisfactory in 18.51% cases. The diagnostic accuracy and positive predictive values were 85.71% and 78.26%, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Although there are some limitations, most lesions of the anterior mediastinum can be diagnosed on FNAC.
Desai
Fanny
F
Shija hospitals and Research Institute, Imphal, Manipur, India. fannydesai@gmail.com
Shah
Manoj
M
Patel
Shreedevi
S
Shukla
Shilin N
SN
D000328:Adult; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008477:Mediastinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology*; D008482:Mediastinum / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged