A valuable test for malignancy of orbital tumors

Abstract

Objective: This study determined the effectiveness of fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) in detecting malignancy in orbital lesions compared with section biopsy. Its sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value were determined. Methods: This is a nonrandomized, prospective, comparative study of 33 (20 males and 13 females, ages 11 months to 71 years) with orbital lesions who underwent FNAB. The cytologic results were correlated with the histologic results. Different pathologists who were blinded as to study lesions read the cytologic and histologic smears. Results: Twenty-three patients whose smears had high yield of cells were included in the study. Excluded were 2 with poor yield smears, 3 hemorrhagic smears, and 5 without section biopsies of which 2 presented with pyogenic granuloma. FNAB is 87.5% sensitive and 100% specific, with a positive predictive value of 100%. No statistical difference was found between FNAB and section biopsy in detecting ocular malignancy (p < 0.05) in this study. Conclusion: FNAB has a good sensitivity and specificity in diagnosing ocular malignancy and is a useful tool in the diagnosis of orbital tumors.

Keywords

• fine-needle aspiration biopsy
• section biopsy
• malignancy
• orbital tumors