Role of fine needle aspiration cytology in the diagnosis of hepatic lesions

Objective: To evaluate the role of Fine needle aspiration cytology(FNAC) as a first line of investigation in space occupying lesions of liver and to study the various cytological patterns in hepatic lesions, categorizing them into non-neoplastic and neoplastic lesions. Materials and Methods: Retrospective study of a total of 138 guided Fine needle aspirations was done at Father Muller Medical College Mangalore, during the period of Jan 2011 to Dec 2013. Papanicolaou (Pap) and May-Grunwald-Giemsa (MGG) stained smears was reviewed and analysed under the microscope. Results: Age ranged from 22 to 85 yrs. 122 out of 138 were conclusive. 17 out of 122 were benign lesions, 8 cases were reported as negative for malignancy, 2 suspicious for malignancy, 95 were malignant cases of which 40 were primary in the liver. Metastatic lesions were 55 including squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, malignant melanoma, neuroendocrine and small cell carcinoma. One case of spindle cell neoplasm was reported the histopathology of which was inconclusive. Conclusion : Guided FNA is a first line of investigation in space occupying lesions of liver as the procedure is safe, simple, rapid, effective and minimally invasive