Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 25, 2026

Detection of Extravascular Trypanosoma Parasites by Fine Needle Aspiration
Published on: August 7, 2019
Diagnostic dilemmas in fine needle aspiration cytology of an ectopic kidney: a case report
Ruta Goregaonkar1, Seethalakshmi Viswanathan, Nikhil H Merchant
1Department of Pathology, Tata Memorial Hospital, Parel, Mumbai, India.
Background:
Congenital anomalies are easily diagnosed on radiology and rarely have an unusual presentation requiring an invasive diagnostic procedure. Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC), though a well-established diagnostic technique for abdominal and retroperitoneal lesions, is fraught with several challenges and pitfalls.
Case:
We report a case of a 39-year-old woman with an ectopic kidney presenting as an abdominal mass. On FNAC the cellular aspirate was misinterpreted as a paraganglioma or metastatic carcinoma.
Conclusion:
This case highlights the fact that on FNAC, normal cellular components, especially from the kidney, provide a significant pitfall for overdiagnosis, potentially resulting in unnecessary surgical explorations.
Related Concept Videos
Acute Pyelonephritis II: Diagnostic Studies and Management
Acute Kidney Injury IV: Diagnostic Studies and Prevention
Urologic Endoscopic Procedure: Cystoscopic Examination
Imaging Studies VII: Vascular Imaging
Imaging Studies V: Intravenous Urography and Retrograde Pyelography
Chronic Kidney Disease III: Interprofessional Care

