BACKGROUND: The early detection and treatment of tumor recurrences in melanoma patients is dependent on reliable, sensitive, and specific techniques to verify suspected tumor metastases. As of now, fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) has yet to establish itself in the routine follow-up of melanoma patients. METHODS: FNAC procedures were performed in melanoma patients with palpable tumors or nonpalpable, ultrasonically suspicious lesions. Cytodiagnostic evaluation of fine-needle samples obtained from suspicious lesions was performed morphologically. Findings were validated either by histopathologic diagnosis or prolonged clinical follow-up. RESULTS: The cytologic examination of 739 FNACs from 330 melanoma patients was conducted within 1 day of sampling. Complications were not observed. This study showed a sensitivity of 97.9% and a specificity of 100.0%. Moreover, in 158 FNACs derived from lesions with a diameter less than 1 cm a sensitivity of 94.6% was achieved. Diagnosis of metastatic melanoma with unknown primary tumor was established in 20 cases. CONCLUSIONS: FNAC is very reliable for the early detection of melanoma metastases. FNAC is a swift method free of complications and is able to replace diagnostic surgery completely for nonmalignant lesions in a large number of patients. Moreover, FNAC is especially useful in combination with ultrasound in melanoma follow-up and can enable diagnosis of lesions smaller than 1 cm without impairment of sensitivity or specificity.
BACKGROUND: The early detection and treatment of tumor recurrences in melanomapatients is dependent on reliable, sensitive, and specific techniques to verify suspected tumor metastases. As of now, fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) has yet to establish itself in the routine follow-up of melanomapatients. METHODS: FNAC procedures were performed in melanomapatients with palpable tumors or nonpalpable, ultrasonically suspicious lesions. Cytodiagnostic evaluation of fine-needle samples obtained from suspicious lesions was performed morphologically. Findings were validated either by histopathologic diagnosis or prolonged clinical follow-up. RESULTS: The cytologic examination of 739 FNACs from 330 melanomapatients was conducted within 1 day of sampling. Complications were not observed. This study showed a sensitivity of 97.9% and a specificity of 100.0%. Moreover, in 158 FNACs derived from lesions with a diameter less than 1 cm a sensitivity of 94.6% was achieved. Diagnosis of metastatic melanoma with unknown primary tumor was established in 20 cases. CONCLUSIONS: FNAC is very reliable for the early detection of melanoma metastases. FNAC is a swift method free of complications and is able to replace diagnostic surgery completely for nonmalignant lesions in a large number of patients. Moreover, FNAC is especially useful in combination with ultrasound in melanoma follow-up and can enable diagnosis of lesions smaller than 1 cm without impairment of sensitivity or specificity.
Authors: Christy Y Chai; Jonathan S Zager; Margaret M Szabunio; Suroosh S Marzban; Alec Chau; Robert M Rossi; Vernon K Sondak Journal: Ann Surg Oncol Date: 2011-12-23 Impact factor: 5.344
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Authors: Andrea Ronchi; Marco Montella; Federica Zito Marino; Giuseppe Argenziano; Elvira Moscarella; Gabriella Brancaccio; Giuseppe Ferraro; Giovanni Francesco Nicoletti; Teresa Troiani; Renato Franco; Immacolata Cozzolino Journal: Cancer Cytopathol Date: 2021-07-26 Impact factor: 4.264
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