Utility of fine needle aspiration cytology in mediastinal lesions: a clinicopathologic study of 1617 cases from a single institution.

Objective: To study the distribution, prevalence and cytomorphologic features of mediastinal lesions and assess the utility of fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) in such lesions by correlating with clinical, laboratory and imageologic parameters.

Study Design: A retrospective study was performed of mediastinal lesions that were referred for ultrasonographic/computed tomography-guided FNAC during the years 2001-2006. Correlation was done wherever possible using the following parameters: histology, bone marrow, imageology, tumor markers, cytology, immunohistochemistry, antecedent history and regression after therapy.

Results: A total of 161 patients underwent 182 aspirates. Diagnosis was possible in 130 (80.7%) patients, and, in 31 cases (19.3%), aspirates were unsatisfactory. In 71 (54.6%) correlation was done, and in 70 (98.5%) positive correlation was found.

Conclusion: FNAC in correlation with clinical, imageologic and hematologic features proved to be an excellent diagnostic tool in diagnosing as well as classifying mediastinal lesions and can be used as a substitute to core biopsy.