title: Fine needle aspiration cytology of anterior mediastinal masses.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Shija hospitals and Research Institute, Imphal, Manipur, India. fannydesai@gmail.com
authors.forename: Fanny
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Desai
authors.forename: Manoj
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.forename: Shreedevi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: Shilin N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Shukla
mesh_terms: 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