title: Study of computed tomography-guided fine needle aspiration cytology of thoracic lesions.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Thoracic lesions include a variety of benign and malignant lesions of lung, pleura, chest wall and mediastinum. Transthoracic fine needle aspiration cytology (TFNAC) is a well established technique for work up of thoracic lesions. Computed tomography (CT) has extended the use of FNAC, because it is accurate for localization, needle puncture and above all it permits evaluation of lesions less than 1 cm. This diagnostic modality has a high sensitivity, specificity and is of relatively low cost.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the role of CT-guided FNAC in the diagnosis of thoracic lesions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty three patients with various thoracic lesions were evaluated by CT guided FNAC. The cytologic findings were compared with cell blocks whenever available.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Conclusive opinion was offered on cytology smears in 80 patients. Lesions of the lung were the most common. Neoplastic lesions in our study accounted for 65% of cases. The sensitivity and specificity of the study were 93.33% and 100%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CT-guided TFNAC is a low cost, safe, minimally invasive and accurate diagnostic procedure with high sensitivity and specificity and when interpreted in conjunction with clinical and radiological data can prevent some of the pitfalls in diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, JSS Medical College, JSS University, Mysore, India.
authors.forename: Maggad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rangaswamy
authors.forename: Togy Thomas
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Zacharia
authors.forename: Jayashree
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Krishnamurthy
authors.forename: Gururajprasad
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chennakeshaviah
authors.lastname: Sunila
authors.forename: Manjunath Gubbania
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Vimala