Categories
Nevin Manimala Statistics

Efficacy and Validity of Image-Guided Percutaneous Fine Needle Aspiration and Core Biopsy of Liver Pathologies: Saga of Focal Hepatic Lesions from the Nodule to the Needle to the Slide

J Cytol. 2021 Jan-Mar;38(1):21-30. doi: 10.4103/JOC.JOC_70_20. Epub 2021 Feb 17.

ABSTRACT

CONTEXT: Radiology and pathology are pivotal tools in the investigational artillery for management of wide spectrum of hepatic lesions and early detection is of a paramount importance.

AIMS: The study aimed at analyzing the efficacy, comparative yield and validity of image-guided aspiration cytology (FNA)/core biopsy (CB) in focal hepatic lesions.

SETTINGS AND DESIGN: A retrospective hospital-based study was conducted in departments of Pathology and Radiology and Imaging of a tertiary care center.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cases of focal hepatic lesions that underwent percutaneous image guided-FNA reported (2011-2018) were analyzed. Cytological-histopathological correlation was performed where available. FNA diagnoses were divided into four categories-positive for malignancy (group 1), atypical (group 2), negative for malignancy (group 3), and non-diagnostic (group 4).

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Categorical data was depicted in the form of frequencies and proportions. Validity of percutaneous image-guided FNA diagnosis was collated with the final diagnosis and results were analyzed.

RESULTS: A total of 338 FNA of focal hepatic lesions were reported in which 217 (68.2%) cases in group 1; 21 (6.2%) in group 2; 58 (17.2%) in group 3 and 42 (12.4%) in group 4. CB correlation was available in 123 cases. Based on clinical, radiological and pathological findings, conclusive final diagnoses were obtained and the cases were regrouped [malignant cases-245, benign lesions-57 and uncertain lesions-36]. Metastasis was the most common malignancy (175/245; 71.4%). Sensitivity, specificity, and overall diagnostic accuracy of FNA to categorize the lesion as benign or malignant were 96.94%, 100% and 97.51%, respectively. However, the cytology-histopathology correlation revealed discordance of subtyping the lesion in 20% of cases and sensitivity and specificity reduced to 80% and 50% respectively in rendering the specific diagnosis.

CONCLUSIONS: Percutaneous image-guided FNA is a sensitive and specific tool with high diagnostic accuracy in evaluating focal hepatic lesions. The study highlights the pre-eminence of interventional radiology and cytology in the care of patients with liver lesions.

PMID:33935388 | PMC:PMC8078618 | DOI:10.4103/JOC.JOC_70_20

By Nevin Manimala

Portfolio Website for Nevin Manimala