Computed tomogram guided fine-needle aspiration cytology of lung mass with histological correlation: A study in Eastern India.
BACKGROUND
Fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is an important and useful investigation, and is considered next to imaging in the rapid diagnosis of pulmonary mass lesion for the last few decades.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the role of Computed Tomogram (CT) guided FNAC in pulmonary mass lesions; to analyze the results; and to compare with histopathological findings.


METHODS
The clinical, radiological, and cytological data of 130 patients were prospectively studied who underwent CT guided FNAC from October 2009 through September 2011. Thereafter these patients underwent bronchoscopic/trucut biopsy/lobectomy, whatever clinically indicated. Smears and tissue sections were evaluated simultaneously to reach at a definite diagnosis.


RESULTS
Out of 130 cases, we found adequate FNAC smear and histopathology reports only in 124 cases. The age range varied from 35 to 73 years with the peak in the fifth to sixth decades. The benign lesions were 10 (8.07%) and malignant lesions were114 (91.93%) shown by cytology. The most common tumor was adenocarcinoma (51.72%) followed by squamous cell carcinoma (22.41%) and small cell carcinoma 6.89%. Diagnostic accuracy of CT guided FNAC was 95%. Post procedural complications such as hemorrhage and chest pain were minimal and were noted only in three cases.


CONCLUSIONS
CT guided FNAC of pulmonary masses provides simple, easy, and reliable method for reaching rapid tissue diagnosis with minimal complication.
Department of Pathology, Medical College, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
Santosh Kumar
SK
Mondal
Department of Pathology, Medical College, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
Dipanwita
D
Nag
Department of Pathology, Medical College, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
Rama
R
Das
Department of Pathology, Medical College, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
Palash Kumar
PK
Mandal
Department of Pathology, Medical College, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
Pranab Kr
PK
Biswas
Department of Pathology, Medical College, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
Manish
M
Osta
FNAC; histological correlation; pulmonary mass