Trends in Clinical and Medical Sciences
Special issue: Recent developments of medical and surgical research (2023), pp. 261 – 274
ISSN: 2791-0814 (online) 2791-0806 (Print)
DOI: 10.30538/psrp-tmcs2023.si-rdmsr036
ISSN: 2791-0814 (online) 2791-0806 (Print)
DOI: 10.30538/psrp-tmcs2023.si-rdmsr036
Role of FNAC in palpable soft tissue tumors with emphasis on its correlation with histopathology
Bindu Rani KM\(^{1,*}\) and Aiswarya Ann George\(^{1}\)
\(^{1}\) Department of Pathology, VIMS, Ballari, Karnataka, India.
Correspondence should be addressed to Bindu Rani KM at binduranibbp78@gmail.com
Copyright © 2023 Bindu Rani KM and Aiswarya Ann George. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Received: February 10, 2023 – Accepted: April 14, 2023 – Published: April 17, 2023
Abstract
Background: Soft tissue tumors (STTs) and tumor-like lesions have fascinated clinicians and pathologists for years. Due to their wide variety and close histopathological similarities between certain tumors, they pose a diagnostic challenge. They most commonly present as masses and are rarely associated with pain. Fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) has been documented as a reliable preoperative diagnostic tool to broadly differentiate them into benign and malignant categories. Histopathology is still considered the gold standard for STTs.
Aim of the Study:}The aim of this study is to classify and subcategorize soft tissue tumors and to correlate the findings of FNAC of soft tissue tumors with histopathology.
Methods: This prospective study was carried out on patients with palpable soft tissue masses attending the surgical OPD between January 2021 and June 2022. FNAC of soft tissue lesions was performed, and only cases with subsequent histopathological examination were included in the study. Cytopathological and histopathological diagnoses were correlated.
Results: Out of 90 soft tissue tumors, 83 (92.22%) were benign, 1 (1.11%) was intermediate, and 6 (6.6%) were malignant. The male to female ratio was 1.7:1. The most common site was the trunk (34.4%), followed by the lower extremity (30%). Of all benign lesions, lipoma was the most common (71.1%). There was a concordance of FNAC with histopathology in 88 out of 90 cases (97.8%).
Conclusion: Benign soft tissue tumors outnumber malignant tumors. FNAC is an effective method for the rapid diagnosis of STTs, and preoperatively, it helps differentiate between benign and malignant lesions in most cases. Although histopathology is the gold standard, FNAC has high specificity in diagnosing malignant tumors, thereby preventing unnecessary extensive or radical surgery for benign lesions.
Aim of the Study:}The aim of this study is to classify and subcategorize soft tissue tumors and to correlate the findings of FNAC of soft tissue tumors with histopathology.
Methods: This prospective study was carried out on patients with palpable soft tissue masses attending the surgical OPD between January 2021 and June 2022. FNAC of soft tissue lesions was performed, and only cases with subsequent histopathological examination were included in the study. Cytopathological and histopathological diagnoses were correlated.
Results: Out of 90 soft tissue tumors, 83 (92.22%) were benign, 1 (1.11%) was intermediate, and 6 (6.6%) were malignant. The male to female ratio was 1.7:1. The most common site was the trunk (34.4%), followed by the lower extremity (30%). Of all benign lesions, lipoma was the most common (71.1%). There was a concordance of FNAC with histopathology in 88 out of 90 cases (97.8%).
Conclusion: Benign soft tissue tumors outnumber malignant tumors. FNAC is an effective method for the rapid diagnosis of STTs, and preoperatively, it helps differentiate between benign and malignant lesions in most cases. Although histopathology is the gold standard, FNAC has high specificity in diagnosing malignant tumors, thereby preventing unnecessary extensive or radical surgery for benign lesions.
Keywords:
Benign; Fine needle aspiration cytology; Histopathology; Malignant; Soft tissue tumors.