FNAC: Is it Useful in Diagnosis and Classification of Ovarian Lesions?

Abstract

Introduction: Although, infrequently used, Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) is a safe and quite helpful investigation in diagnosing as well as classifying ovarian lesions. Objectives: Our aim was to assess the efficacy of fine needle aspiration cytology in diagnosis and subsequent classification of ovarian masses. Material and Methods: This was a prospective study of 83 fine needle aspirates of ovarian masses in females, undertaken under image-guidance from November 2009 through October 2011. We tried to assess the adequacy rates, render cytodiagnosis and then correlate with histology whenever possible. Results: Adequacy rates were 97.6%. Of 81 adequate cases, 3 were non-neoplastic, 2 benign (including 1 mature teratoma & 1 fibroma), 2 serous borderline tumour and remaining 74 were malignant on FNAC. Among the malignant tumours of ovary, most frequently diagnosed were epithelial tumours (65.2%) followed by germ cell tumours (15.6%). Correlation with histological diagnosis was done. The diagnostic accuracy of FNAC was 89.7%. Sensitivity and specificity were 100% and 80%, respectively. No significant complications were observed. Conclusion: Fine needle aspiration cytology of ovarian lesions is an accurate, useful and safe diagnostic procedure. It also enables a fairly satisfactory classification of ovarian tumours and thereby facilitates the choice of appropriate therapy

Keywords

• fine needle aspiration cytology
• ovarian masses
• ovarian tumours