Bilquis A Suleman, Naila Atif, Shafique Ahmad, Nasir Chughtai.
Spectrum of intrathoracic lesions by guided Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC).
Proceeding Shaikh Zayed Postgrad Med Inst Jan ;18(2):77-84.

This study was done to evaluate the spectrum of various intrathoracic lesions by radiologically guided fine needle aspiration cytology FNAC was performed on 62 patients (48 males and 14 females) at Shaikh Zayed Hospital, Lahore under ultrasound and CT scan guidance. The cytologic diagnoses were classified as primary lung lesions and mediastinal lesions. Four major groups were made; Non Diagnostic, Benign or negative for malignancy, inflammatory lesions and malignant lesions. Diagnostic yield was 95.1%. Thirty cases (48.4%) were malignant, 19 cases (30.7%) belonged to inflammatory group, 10 cases (16.7%) were diagnosed as benign or negative for malignant cells, and 3 cases (4.9%) were non-diagnostic due to F inadequate aspirate inspite of repeated aspirations. Malignant lung lesions comprised of 9 cases (31.1%) 1 small cell carcinoma, 2 cases (6.9%) broadly categorized as non-small cell carcinoma, 7 cases (24.1%) of squamous cell carcinoma, 5 cases (17.2) of metastatic adenocarcinoma, 4 cases (13.8) of undiff erentiated carcinoma and a single case each of mesothelioma and of malignant round cell tumor (3.4%). Out of mediastinal lesions there was only one case of malignancy that was malignant round cell tumour of child hood. Nineteen out of total 62 cases were of inflammatory group. Out of which 10 cases (52.6%) had , chronic granulomatous inflammation, and nine cases (47.4%) were of abscesses. Tuberculosis was found 1 in 6 cases and the remaining 4 cases were suggestive of tuberculosis. Majority of lung lesions were encountered in 6`h decade of life. As the method is simple, rapid, and cost effective, it can be easily practiced in any centre, where specialized radiologists and pathologists are available. It reduces the patient`s stay in hospital and thus the cost of treatment is markedly reduced.

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