Fine needle aspiration cytology in the diagnosis of mediastinal seminomas

Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) was employed to diagnose 117 cases of mediastinal tumours from January, 1985 till December, 1994. Six cases were diagnosed as mediastinal seminomas which are rare mediastinal malignant neoplasms. All patients had complete resolution of the mediastinal masses after external beam radiotherapy. Diagnosis of mediastinal masses by FNAC can spare the patients from more invasive diagnostic procedures and help the thoracic surgeons to plan immediate treatment.