Effectiveness of image guided fine needle aspiration cytology in cases of deep seated lesions

Abstract

Background: Newer development in radiology has completely revolutionized the approach to percutaneous aspiration of space occupying deep seated lesions making it rapid, inexpensive, versatile and an adjunctive tool for evaluating internal organs. Aims & Objective: The present study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of image guided fine needle aspiration cytology in cases of deep seated lesions. Material and Methods: Total 169 aspirations performed from 161 cases in period of two years, 131 (77.51%) were under USG guidance and 38 (22.49%) were under CT guidance. Results: Overall adequacy rate was 76.92% for guided aspirations. Adequacy rate in case of aspirations done by pathologist was much higher than clinicians with P value (with Yates correction) of < 0.05. The most common organ for aspiration was liver (30.18 %), followed by ovary (23.67 %). Guided aspirations were also done from various organs like lung, retroperitoneal lymph nodes, pancreas, stomach, gall bladder, kidney, mediastinum, pleura, suprarenal gland and abdominal wall with high adequacy rate and without complications though with smaller sample size. Cytological diagnosis was possible in 73% cases. Conclusion: Guided aspiration is a simple, safe and cost effective screening test for deep seated lesions with a significant role in the detection of clinically unsuspected malignancy making it an investigation of choice for early confirmation or exclusion of pathology.