Ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration biopsy of retroperitoneal masses

Abstract

The study was undertaken to evaluate the reliability of ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) in distinguishing benign and malignant lesions in the retroperitoneum and correlate the diagnosis by cytology of retroperitoneal masses with the results obtained by histology. The clinicopathological study was carried out in 50 patients presenting with retroperitoneal masses on ultrasonography. Fine needle aspiration under ultrasound guidance of these masses was performed by 20-22G needle after thorough clinical examination. Malignant lesion constituted the maximum number of cases - 31 (62%) followed by benign and inflammatory lesion - 16 cases (32%). Eleven cases out of 23 renal masses were Wilm's tumour, 4 were renal cell carcinoma and there was a single case of angiomyolipoma of kidney. Out of 20 cases with retroperitoneal lymphadenopathy 12 cases (60%) were inflammatory, mainly tuberculosis and 8 (40%) had malignancy. Out of the 7 cases of miscellaneous retroperitoneal masses, 3 were fibrohistiocytic tumour and 2 were myxoid liposarcoma. Ultrasound guided FNAB is an inexpensive, rapid, safe and accurate procedure for the diagnosis of retroperitoneal masses.