Fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) diagnosis of testicular involvement in acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children.

A series of 106 fine-needle aspiration biopsy specimens obtained from the testes of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia was reviewed retrospectively. Involvement by leukemia was seen in 34, there was no evidence of disease in 52, and the cellular sample was inadequate in 20. All aspiration smears, except those with leukemic involvement, showed a variable number of Sertoli cells. Testicular leukemia was diagnosed by the presence of numerous leukemic cells and rare or no Sertoli cells. Fine-needle aspiration biopsy is a simple but effective technique for diagnosing leukemic involvement of the testis in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.