Clinical and histopathological significance of fine needle aspiration cytology in ophthalmic tumors

Abstract

We performed fine needle aspiration cytologic studies in a consecutive series of 142 cases with lid or orbital tumors during the past 7 years (July 1975 to Augut 1982). Postsurgical histopathological studies could be performed in 93 cases. The lesions proved to be malignant tumors in 46 cases and benign tumors in 47 cases.
In the 46 cases with malignant tumor, aspiration cytology indicated malignant cells in 38 cases (82.6%) and strongly suspicious cells in 5 cases (10.9%). In 39 cases (84.8%), the histopathological structure was estimated by the cytological finding.
In the 47 cases with benign tumor, aspiration cytology showed no malignant cells throughout and suspicious cells in only 6 cases (12.8%). Class I and II were 41 cases (87.2%). The cytologic findings were correlated with the histopathological diagnosis in 20 cases (42.6%).
The fine needle aspiration cytology is recommended as a routine clinical procedure for its inherent value and for the minimum discomfort to the patient.