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Usefulness of light microscopy in lymph node fine needle aspiration biopsy
Anastasio Serrano Egea1, Miguel A Martínez González, Andrés Pérez Barrios
1Department of Anatomic Pathology, Hospital 12 de Octubre, Crta. de Andalucía km 5,400, 28041 Madrid, Spain.
Objective:
To evaluate light microscopic examination of lymph node fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) in order to determine the indications for ancillary procedures and biopsy.
Study Design:
Reports and smears from 693 consecutive lymph node FNABs were reviewed. Fifty-five cases were excluded because of inadequacy of the material, and another 26 were excluded because follow-up information was not available.
Results:
Cytologically, 220 cases were diagnosed as positive for malignancy and 392 as negative. Global sensitivity was 94.1% and specificity 96.9%. Sensitivity was higher for nonlymphoid neoplasms (98.2%) than for lymphoproliferative disorders (82.8%).
Conclusion:
Lymph node FNAB is a cost-effective procedure, and with adequate cytologic examination and follow-up, a large number of biopsies and time-consuming ancillary techniques can be avoided.