Fine Needle Capillary Sampling of Eyelid Masses

Abstract

To study the cytomorphology of eyelid tumors, correlate it with histopathology and determine the diagnostic accuracy of fine needle capillary (FNC) sampling (nonaspiration) in the evaluation of lid tumors. A prospective study of 70 cases of eyelid masses carried out using FNC, with confirmation by histology in 66 cases and peripheral blood smear and bone marrow examination in 3. Histology was not done in 1 case, and 11 cases were inadequate on cytology. The diagnostic accuracy of cytology was 94.73%, and false negativity was 5.17%. The ages of the patients ranged from 3 to 75 years, with a mean of 40.4. The male/female ratio was nearly equal (37:33). The upper eyelid was affected in 45 cases and lower lid in 25 cases. The right eye was affected in 35 cases, left eye in 34 cases and both eyes in 1 case. Fifteen benign, 35 malignant and 9 infectious/inflammatory lesions were encountered, with 11 inadequate smears. FNC sampling is an effective method of sampling eyelid tumors because it causes little discomfort to the patient and allows the operator to maintain better control over the procedure. A distinction between inflammatory, benign and malignant lesions and between the types of malignant tumors can be made.