The role of fine Needle Aspiration Cytology in the Diagnosis of Tissue Masses in Children

Abstract

Summary: Our experience with the use of fine needle aspiration (FNA) cytology in the diagnosis of various solid tissue masses in 87 children aged 15 months to 14 years at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, over a period of three years, is reviewed. Most aspirates were obtained from lymph nodes and jaw masses, constituting 51.8 percent and 16.5 percent, respectively. Tuberculous adenitis accounted for 24.7 percent of the aspirated lesions while Burkitt's lymphoma was the commonest malignancy diagnosed, accounting for 20 percent of cases. Other malignancies diagnosed by the method included retinoblastoma (8.3 percent) and rhabdomyosarcoma (4.7 percent). The procedure provided definitive diagnosis in 70 percent of cases, thereby obviating the need for subsequent incisional biopsies.