Role of percutaneous fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) in detection of lung, pleural and mediastinal tumours--a study of 162 cases.

Percutaneous fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) was employed in 162 cases of lung, pleural and mediastinal tumours without the aid of fluoroscopy. There were 143 males and 19 females. Analysis of results showed that the age of the patients ranged from 3 years to 85 years. 135 cases were lung tumours, 25 cases were mediastinal tumours and 2 cases were malignant pleural mesotheliomas. Correlation with histopathology showed diagnostic accuracy of malignant lung and pleural tumours was 97.1% while the accuracy of the exact categorisation of the lesion was 92%. Diagnostic accuracy of mediastinal lesions was 96%. There was no false positive report. No complication was encountered in this procedure.