title: Reliability of small biopsy or cytology for the diagnosis of pulmonary mucinous adenocarcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In case of mucinous adenocarcinoma (MA), cytologic atypia is usually mild to moderate, or may be absent in some cases, incurring a diagnostic pitfall in recognising MA in small tissue biopsy and cytology specimens. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of transthoracic fine needle aspiration (FNA) or core needle biopsy (CNB) for making a diagnosis of pulmonary MA.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively reviewed a consecutive series of 185 patients who underwent curative operation for MA. Among those patients, 105 patients underwent preoperative percutaneous FNA (n=34) or CNB (n=79). Eight patients underwent FNA and CNB for the same tumour. Diagnostic accuracies of FNA and CNB for making a diagnosis of MA were evaluated, and the contribution of various clinicopathologic parameters to subtyping accuracy was analysed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Diagnostic accuracies of FNA and CNB in determining malignancy were 67.6% and 87.3%, respectively, and those for making a diagnosis of MA were 20.6% and 59.5%, respectively. Univariate analysis indicated that the type of biopsy procedure and prominent growth pattern of MA are significant factors for successful histologic diagnosis. Tumour nature on CT and the length of biopsy specimen were not related to successful diagnosis of histology subtyping of MA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CNB appears to be feasible and accurate for diagnosing a MA. Prominent growth patterns of MA are significant factors for successful histologic diagnosis of MA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Center for Imaging Science, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hee Young
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Center for Imaging Science, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Ho Yun
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Center for Imaging Science, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Kyung Soo
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonology, Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: O Jung
authors.initials: OJ
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Young Mog
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Shim
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Joungho
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Han
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D000077192:Adenocarcinoma of Lung; D002288:Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D062005:Biopsy, Large-Core Needle; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Diagnosis; Lung Cancer; Surgical Pathology