[Value of fine needle aspiration cytology in the diagnosis and treatment of tumors].
UNLABELLED: We report the cytologic results of 186 fine needle aspirations on accessible lymph nodes and tumoral masses as well as deep masses under radiologic control. We assessed the ratios of diagnostic accuracy and the utility of this procedure for staging solid tumors and taking therapeutic decisions. RESULTS: sensitivity, 89.6%; specificity, 100%; positive predictive value, 100%; negative predictive value, 57% and accuracy index, 89.2%. Using this technique we detected a metastatic disease in 62% of neoplastic patients. We took a therapeutic decision (active treatment or analgesia) in accordance with the results of the cytology in 63% of patients with solid tumors. Two patients, after a transthoracic aspiration, developed pneumothorax as a complication. Cytology by fine needle aspiration is a fast and simple method for diagnosing, staging and taking a therapeutic decision on patients with solid tumors.