Utility of Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology in Diagnosing Bone Tumors

Abstract

Aim: Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) for cytodiagnosis of various lesions is routinely used in many centers. In bone, however, FNAC has not been widely applied because of concerns about its diagnostic accuracy. The present study aims to determine the value of FNAC in the diagnosis of bone tumors. Methods: It was a progressive observational study conducted over a period of one year, undertaken on suspected bone tumor cases in Acharya Vinoba Bhave Rural Hospital, Wardha, India. The material obtained was smeared on glass slides and stained with Giemsa stain. Results: A total of 36 cases were studied, of which diagnostic material was adequately obtained in 32 cases (88.88%). The sensitivity (92.85%) and specificity (94.44%) of FNAC were high, with an accuracy of 93.75%, which is similar to findings in other studies. Conclusion: FNAC plays a vital role in diagnosing bone tumors. It is a rapid, easy, cheap, and minimum invasive outpatient department procedure. However histopathology is still important in diagnosing bone tumors that are unclear or undiagnosed on FNAC since histopathology gives a complete architectural pattern of tissue.