title: A Critical Appraisal of the Spectrum of Image Guided Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology: A Three Year Experience from a Tertiary Care Centre in Delhi.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Image guided fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is a safe, simple, rapid, cost effective and accurate modality in evaluation of deep seated lumps (abdominal, pelvic and intrathoracic masses) which are unapproachable by blind FNAC. In this study, a critical analysis of the utility of image guided FNAC in deep seated and otherwise inacessible mass lesions was carried out.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-four ultrasound (USG) or computed tomography (CT) guided FNACs from lumps at any location in the body, that is, thoracic, abdominal, pelvic etc over a period of 3 years (January 2012- December 2014) were included in the study. The most common site aspirated, the indications for a guided aspiration and the accuracy of aspiration cytology in comparison to the histological diagnosis were evaluated, wherever possible.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty-four image guided FNACs were performed (46 USG guided and 8 CT guided). Inconclusive, inflammatory, benign tumors, suspicious and malignant lesion rates were 5.6%, 29.6%, 11.1%, 5.6%, and 48.1%, respectively. The most common site was the liver (25.5%), followed by the thyroid (18.5%), lung (14.8%), gallbladder (11.1%), and lymph nodes (7.4%). Cytohistological correlation could be performed in 32 cases with a diagnostic accuracy of 100%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  FNAC coupled with a diagnostic imaging technique such as USG or CT can improve the diagnostic yield and a definite diagnosis can be reached in most of the cases.
authors.affiliation: , Department of Pathology, Hamdard Institute of Medical Sciences & Research, NEW DELHI, INDIA.
authors.forename: Mukta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pujani
authors.forename: Sujata
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jetley
authors.forename: Zeeba S
authors.initials: ZS
authors.lastname: Jairajpuri
authors.forename: Sabina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Mohd Jaseem
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Hassan
authors.forename: Safia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rana
authors.forename: Mukesh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kumar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle / Q000379:methods*; D003581:Cytodiagnosis / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D061705:Image-Guided Biopsy / Q000379:methods*; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods*