ROLE OF ULTRASONOGRAPHY-GUIDED FINE NEEDLE ASPIRATION CYTOLOGY IN HEPATIC LESIONS: A PROSPECTIVE AND OBSERVATIONAL STUDY AT A TERTIARY HEALTH-CARE CENTRE IN CENTRAL INDIA

Abstract

Objectives: The liver is a common site for primary as well as secondary malignancies. Ultrasonography (USG)-guided fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is a rapid, accurate, economical, and safe diagnostic procedure for various hepatic lesions. The aims of the study were to categorize and study the cytomorphological features of the hepatic lesions, study the age and sex distribution and analyzing cytological features of the hepatic lesions, and to evaluate the sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic accuracy of USG-guided FNAC in diagnosing hepatic lesions. Methods: A prospective and observational study of 64 patients with clinically and radiologically diagnosed hepatic lesions and referred for FNAC in department of pathology of a tertiary care hospital. USG-guided FNAC was performed in each patient and cytological features were analyzed. Results: In our study, out of total 64 USG-guided FNAC of liver, metastasis was most common – 33 cases (51.56%), followed by primary hepatocellular carcinoma – 18 cases (28.12%), liver abscess – 6 cases (9.37%), and 7 cases (10.93%) were unsatisfactory smears. Conclusion: USG-guided FNAC, in expert hands being simple, safe, quick, reliable, cost-effective, efficient, and easily available OPD-based procedure and with less number of complications, it has a very important role in accurate diagnosis of primary hepatocellular carcinoma, secondary malignant tumors of liver, and inflammatory lesions of liver.