title: Evaluation of aspiration cytology of the liver space occupying lesions by simultaneous examination of smears and cell blocks.
abstract: This study was undertaken to compare the efficacy of cytologic smears and histological sections from cell blocks in diagnosis of space occupying lesions (SOLs) of the liver and to classify the lesions on the basis of combined cytohistologic diagnosis. The study was conducted on 50 patients who had radiologically detected SOL/SOLs in the liver and ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration of liver was done. In all the cases, both smears and cell blocks were made. Forty-seven cases were diagnosed as malignant and three as benign on both cytologic smears and cell blocks. Hepatocellular carcinoma was diagnosed in 8 (16%) cases and metastasis in 39 (78%) cases. The subtyping of malignancy could not be done on 11 (22%) cytologic smears and 8 (16%) cell block sections. However, on combined cytohistologic correlation, 17 (34%) out of these 19 (38%) cases could be subtyped. Sensitivity of cytologic smears and cell blocks in subtyping of malignancy was 72.3% and 82.9%, respectively. Combined cytohistologic diagnosis was found to be significantly better than isolated cytologic and cell block diagnosis (P < or = 0.05). To conclude, FNA of the SOLs of the liver is an effective procedure for diagnosing malignancy. However, cytological examination alone may fail to pinpoint the type of the tumor. Concomitant examination of cell block not only confirms the malignancy but also helps in subtyping it.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Govt. Medical College and Hospital, Chandigarh 160047, India. ujjawalkhurana@rediffmail.com
authors.forename: Ujjawal
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Khurana
authors.forename: Uma
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Handa
authors.forename: Harsh
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mohan
authors.forename: Atul
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sachdev
mesh_terms: D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D003584:Cytological Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*