title: Trans-oral fine needle aspiration cytology in cervical (C1 and C2) vertebral lesions: a novel diagnostic approach.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Fine needle aspiration (FNA) cytology is a relatively non-invasive method for diagnosing both superficial and deep-seated neoplastic and non-neoplastic lesions. In this study, we evaluated the diagnostic utility of trans-oral FNA in cervical (C1 and C2) vertebral and paravertebral lesions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighteen FNA cases of cervical vertebral and paravertebral lesions performed by a trans-oral route without any image-guidance between 1995 and 2014 were retrieved from the archives of the cytology department at PGIMER, Chandigarh and reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of 18 cases, a definite diagnosis was given in 15 cases (83.3%). The commonest diagnosis seen was granulomatous inflammation consistent with tuberculosis (33.3%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Trans-oral FNA is a quick, inexpensive and relatively safe outpatient procedure for sampling C1 and C2 vertebral and paravertebral lesions, which are clinically and radiologically difficult to approach. It helps in the early diagnosis and management of these patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cytology and Gynecological Pathology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rajwanshi
authors.affiliation: Department of Cytology and Gynecological Pathology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rohilla
authors.affiliation: Department of Cytology and Gynecological Pathology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Singh
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D001848:Bone Diseases, Developmental / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000473:pathology*; D002648:Child; D003581:Cytodiagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
keywords: C1 C2 vertebra; FNA technique; Trans-oral FNA