Spectrum of orbital and ocular adnexal lesions: an analysis of 389 cases diagnosed by fine needle aspiration cytology.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the scope and the limitations of fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) in orbital and ocular adnexal lesions. This study was a retrospective audit of 389 cases of orbital and ocular adnexal lesions subjected to FNAC over a period of 12 years (1998-2009). The cyto-smears were reviewed and the lesions were categorized under different diagnostic categories in adult and pediatric population. Three hundred and one adult patients (age ≥15 years) and 88 pediatric patients (age ≤14 years) constituted the study group. In the adult population, there were 23.3% cases of infectious and lymphoproliferative lesions and 12.6% of benign cysts. In the pediatric population, 18.2% cases had infectious and lymphoproliferative lesions and 8% had benign cysts. Various benign tumors (9.6% in adults) included pleomorphic adenoma, meningioma, and schwannoma. Benign vascular tumors predominated in the pediatric population. A majority of malignant tumors in adults were lymphoreticular malignancies (12.6%); non-Hodgkin's lymphoma being the most common followed by malignant epithelial tumors (10.3%). Nearly 3.6% cases of soft tissue/bone sarcomas and 6.3% of metastatic tumors were seen in adult population. However, most of the orbital tumors in the pediatric population were malignant small blue round cell tumors (33%). FNAC is a cost-effective technique with good diagnostic value in the assessment of ophthalmic lesions, especially when sampling and interpretation are performed by experienced personnel in the light of clinico-radiological information.