Utility of Usg-Guided Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology in The Diagnosis of Intra-Abdominal Masses

Abstract

BACKGROUND Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) with the aid of imaging modalities like Ultrasonography (USG) and Computed Tomography (CT) is an increasingly used technique in diagnosing intra-abdominal masses, both non neoplastic and neoplastic. This study was undertaken to evaluate the utility of image guided cytology in various palpable and non-palpable intra-abdominal lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS A retrospective study was conducted in the Department of Pathology over a period of two years to find the utility of USG guided FNAC in intra-abdominal masses. Percutaneous ultrasound guided FNAC was conducted in a total of 66 cases with palpable and non-palpable intra-abdominal lesions were included in the study. RESULTS A total of 66 patients with intra-abdominal lesions were included in the study. The age of the patients ranged from 14 to 90 years. Of these, 48 cases (72.72%) were males and 19 cases (28.78%) were females. Out of the total aspirates, 7 cases (10.61%) were categorised as non-neoplastic, 55 cases (83.33%) as neoplastic and 4 cases (6.06%) were categorised as inadequate. Thirty one cases (46.96%) were in hepatobiliary region, 9 cases (13.63%) in pancreatic-ampullary region, 8 cases (12.12%) in the retroperitoneal lymph nodes, 6 cases (9.09%) in the right iliac fossa, 4 cases (6.06%) in the gastrointestinal tract, 3 cases (4.54%) of ovarian masses and one case (1.51%) of renal mass. CONCLUSION FNAC is a simple, safe, quick, non invasive and inexpensive procedure. USG guided assisted FNAC plays an important role in the diagnosis and differentiation of neoplastic and non neoplastic intra-abdominal lesions.