English

Abstract

BACKGROUND Fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is an easy, minimally invasive and useful investigation, and is considered important next to imaging in the rapid diagnosis of lung neoplasm for the last few decades. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of image-guided FNAC in pulmonary neoplasm, analyse the results and correlate with cell block histopathological findings. METHODS This is a cross sectional study conducted over a period of two years, involving fifty patients. All the clinical and radiological data were studied from the consenting patient. Then they underwent image-guided FNAC. The cytology smears and cell blocks were evaluated simultaneously to stick out a definitive diagnosis. RESULTS Out of all the 50 cases, we found the necessary FNAC smears and cell block material only in 41 cases. The age range varied from 18 to 90 years with a peak in the fifth to sixth decades. Benign lesions were 4 and malignant were 23 as shown by cytology study. Malignancy was proved in 27 cases in histopathology. The most common tumour was adenocarcinoma (41 %) followed by squamous cell carcinoma (19.5 %). Complications after the procedure were minimal and were noted only in two cases. CONCLUSIONS Image-guided fine needle aspiration cytology of lung tumours provide uncomplicated, cost effective, and a rapid method, for reaching a reliable diagnosis for lung neoplasms with minimum complication. KEYWORDS FNAC, Histological Correlation, Pulmonary Neoplasm