Diagnostic Accuracy of Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology in Soft Tissue Sarcomas

Abstract

Background: To study diagnostic validity of fine
needle aspiration cytology in soft tissue sarcoma.
Methods: In this descriptive study patients of all
ages and both gender with obvious soft tissue
swellings and patient in whom both FNAC followed
by histopathology, were included. Cases with
obvious inflammatory lesions were excluded from
the study. Immunohistochemistry was employed
where required.The diagnosis made on FNAC was
then compared with the diagnosis made on
histopathology.
Results: Mean age of the patients was 28 years±
16yrs. Lower extremity tumours were seen in 65%.
Most common soft tissue sarcoma on FNAC was
spindle cell sarcoma (11 cases) followed by round
cell sarcoma(10 cases). Subsequent histopathology of
cases showed 55% of benign soft tissue tumours and
45% of soft tissue sarcomas. Hence there were 4 false
negative cases and one false positive case on
cytology. On comparing with histopathological
correlation diagnostic accuracy of FNAC in
diagnosing soft tissue sarcoma came out to be
92.3%.The sensitivity and specificity of FNAC in soft
tissue sarcoma was 86.2 % and 97.2% respectively.
Conclusion: FNAC is a useful procedure in preoperative
diagnosis of benign and malignant soft
tissue tumours , with a high sensitivity, specificity
and diagnostic accuracy in soft tissue sarcomas.