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Treatment of acute cholecystitis in non-critically ill patients at high surgical risk: comparison of clinical outcomes after gallbladder aspiration and after percutaneous cholecystostomy.

OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to compare the clinical outcome after gallbladder aspiration with that after percutaneous cholecystostomy in non-critically ill patients with acute cholecystitis who were at high risk from surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Medical records of 53 consecutive non-critically ill, high-surgical-risk patients admitted with acute cholecystitis between July 1995 and July 1999 were reviewed. Thirty-one had gallbladder aspiration and 22 had percutaneous cholecystostomy. The primary outcome measure of clinical response within 72 hr and the secondary outcome measures of overall positive response rate, complication rate, time to resolution, and rate of recurrence of acute cholecystitis were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Gallbladder aspiration and percutaneous cholecystostomy were technically successful in 30 (97%) and 21 (97%) patients, respectively; of these, 23 (77%) and 19 (90%) patients responded clinically within 72 hr (p > 0.2). Complications occurred in three patients (12%) after percutaneous cholecystostomy and in none after gallbladder aspiration (p < 0.05). No significant difference was noted in the other secondary outcome measures of the two groups. CONCLUSION: We found no significant difference in the clinical outcomes of gallbladder aspiration and percutaneous cholecystostomy in the treatment of acute cholecystitis in high-surgical-risk patients who are not critically ill. However, we found gallbladder aspiration to be significantly safer. Therefore, gallbladder aspiration should be the procedure of choice in high-risk patients with acute cholecystitis who are not critically ill, and percutaneous cholecystectomy should be reserved as a salvage procedure if gallbladder aspiration is technically or clinically unsuccessful.

Acute Disease↗

Prefrontal cortex aspiration in pups and juvenile rats: behavioural changes and recovery of function.

Male Wistar rats sustaining prefrontal cortex aspiration or sham operation at 6 days or 30 days of age were submitted to the following behavioural tests: open-field, acquisition and retention of two-way active as well as passive avoidance tasks. In the open-field the locomotor activity proved enhanced in all the aspirated animals and this enhancement lasted for 30 days. In the two-day active avoidance task, an acquisition deficit was observed in both aspirated groups; but when retrained one month later, they were able to acquire the avoidance task like sham-operated rats and no difference appeared between the groups aspirated at 6 or at 30 days of age. Concerning the passive avoidance task, no difference could be detected between aspirated and sham-operated animals of both groups except that the rats aspirated at an early age (6 days) seemed to display a better avoidance ability in the retention test. These behavioural alterations (hyperactivity and impairment of the acquisition of the 2-way active avoidance) resulted from the prefrontal cortex aspiration, at whatever age this aspiration was performed (6 days or 30 days). They disappeared after a postoperative recovery period of about one month, as evidenced by this longitudinal study.

Aging↗

Detection of Tumor Markers Including Carcinoembryonic Antigen, APC, and Cyclin D2 in Fine-Needle Aspiration Fluid of Breast.

Context.-The traditional triple test for breast cancer diagnosis is physical examination, mammography, and aspiration cytology. However, the accuracy of mammography on young women with nonatrophied breasts is poor compared with that for women older than 50 years, and additional methods for diagnosis of breast cancer are needed.Objective.-To investigate whether carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), CA 15-3, and CA 125 concentrations in breast aspiration fluid are useful as breast cancer biochemical markers and whether APC and cyclin D2 gene promoter hypermethylation could be regarded as a breast cancer molecular marker.Design.-CEA, CA 15-3, and CA 125 concentrations were measured, and methylation status of the APC gene promoter 1A and the promoter region of the cyclin D2 gene were analyzed using a methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction assay of ex vivo breast aspiration fluid obtained from 49 samples of excised breast tissue.Setting.-The specimens were collected during a 1-year period in the tertiary care teaching hospital in Seoul, Korea.Patients.-Forty-nine patients with breast masses were surgically treated. Thirty-four patients had breast cancer, and 15 had benign breast disease.Results.-Aspiration fluid CEA concentrations were significantly higher in breast cancer cases than in cases of benign breast disease (mean, 69.90 ng/mg protein vs 0.68 ng/mg protein, respectively; P < .001). At 90% specificity of the assay (CEA, 2.13 ng/mg protein), the corresponding sensitivity for breast cancer detection was 62%, according to the receiver operating characteristic curve drawn. The APC gene promoter 1A and the promoter region of the cyclin D2 gene were methylated in 42% (14/33) and 70% (23/33) of the breast cancer aspiration fluid samples, respectively. A cumulative incidence of methylation of these 2 genes was 85% (28/33). The APC and cyclin D2 gene promoters were both unmethylated in the aspiration fluids from 19 women with nonmalignant breast disease.Conclusions.-Breast aspiration fluid CEA concentration and the methylation of the APC gene promoter 1A and the promoter region of the cyclin D2 gene can be used as tumor markers to overcome some of the limitations of aspiration cytology. In combination with the mammogram and physical examination, assays for these markers could be used to help determine a definitive diagnosis when cytologic results are suspicious for malignancy.

Journal Article↗

Lung transplantation biopsy specimens with bronchiolitis obliterans or bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia due to aspiration.

CONTEXT: Bronchiolitis obliterans (BO) is generally thought to be a marker of chronic airway rejection in patients who have undergone lung transplantation. Bronchoscopic biopsy specimens, by virtue of their small size, may sample only BO and not a lesion of bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia (BOOP). A role for ongoing chronic infection or aspiration has also been suggested, and the distinction of these etiologies may be difficult clinically and pathologically. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the etiology of BO and BOOP in lung transplantation patients who had chronic aspiration. DESIGN: This is a clinicopathologic study of 7 patients who had undergone lung transplantation in which biopsy findings suggested the possibility of chronic airway rejection but in which aspiration was subsequently proven as a cause of the bronchiolar disease. RESULTS: All patients were men, who ranged in age from 19 to 57 years. A clinical diagnosis of aspiration was considered based on history, acid reflux testing, and radiographic findings in all 7 patients. Three patients had BO and 4 patients had BOOP. Histiocytic giant cells or foreign material was absent. The interval from transplantation to BO ascribed to aspiration ranged from 2.5 months to 7 years. The patients were treated aggressively with medication for gastroesophageal reflux disease. Their respiratory function and chest radiography results improved. CONCLUSION: Although BO may be a manifestation of rejection, it may also be a manifestation of aspiration. Because the latter is potentially correctable, aspiration should be considered etiologically in lung transplantation patients with either BO or BOOP. Reliable distinction between aspiration-related or rejection-related BO and BOOP cannot be made on morphologic grounds alone. Clinical and radiologic correlations are indicated to establish the distinction.

Adult↗

Fine-needle aspiration biopsy of the thyroid: an appraisal.

OBJECTIVE: To review the literature on the utility of fine-needle aspiration biopsy in the diagnostic management of nodular thyroid disease. DATA SOURCES: Relevant articles published in major English-language medical journals during the last 10 years. DATA EXTRACTION: Articles were reviewed to assess the results of fine-needle aspiration biopsy and its effect on thyroid management and cost of care. DATA SYNTHESIS: Fine-needle aspiration biopsy of the thyroid gland is safe, inexpensive, minimally invasive, and highly accurate in the diagnosis of nodular thyroid disease. Four cytologic diagnostic categories are used. Rates for these categories, based on data pooled from seven series, were as follows: benign, 69%; suspicious, 10%; malignant, 4%; and nondiagnostic, 17%. Analysis of recent data suggests a false-negative rate of 1% to 11%, a false-positive rate of 1% to 8%, a sensitivity of 65% to 98%, and a specificity of 72% to 100%. Limitations of fine-needle aspiration are related to the skill of the aspirator, the expertise of the cytologist, and the difficulty in distinguishing some benign cellular adenomas from their malignant counterparts. The introduction of fine-needle aspiration has had a substantial effect on the management of patients with thyroid nodules. The percentage of patients undergoing thyroidectomy has decreased by 25%, and the yield of carcinoma in patients who undergo surgery has increased from 15% to at least 30%. Fine-needle aspiration has decreased the cost of care by 25%. CONCLUSIONS: Fine-needle aspiration biopsy is safe, accurate, and cost-effective. The procedure has a central role in the management of thyroid nodules and should be used as the initial diagnostic test.

Biopsy, Needle↗

Percutaneous sonography-guided fine needle aspiration biopsy of colonoscopic biopsy-negative colonic lesions.

BACKGROUND: Pre-operative tissue diagnosis with colonoscopy is not always possible in patients with colonic lesions. OBJECTIVE: To study the usefulness and efficacy of percutaneous ultrasound-guided aspiration biopsy of colonic lesions. METHODS: Fifty consecutive patients with colonic lesions in whom colonoscopic brush cytology and biopsy were either negative or the lesion was not accessible on colonoscopy on two attempts, underwent percutaneous ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy. The results were compared with surgical findings. RESULTS: Fine-needle aspiration biopsy revealed adenocarcinoma in 40 patients; one had lymphoma, 2 had tuberculosis, 2 had abscess and 5 patients had negative aspiration. Forty-eight patients (excluding 2 with tuberculosis) underwent laparotomy and the diagnoses on aspiration biopsy were confirmed. Of the 5 negative aspirations, 3 had adenocarcinoma, one had tuberculosis and one intussusception. Thus, we had sensitivity of 91.8%, specificity of 100%, predictive value of positive results 100%, predictive value of negative results 20%, and percentage of false negative results 8.1%. Two patients developed complications--hemorrhage into the peritoneum and sepsis due to perforation at the site of aspiration; both survived after surgery. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous ultrasound-guided aspiration biopsy may be attempted for diagnosis of colonic lesions in situations where it may be the only means of obtaining a cytological diagnosis before surgery.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Diagnostic findings from testis fine needle aspiration mapping in obstructed and nonobstructed azoospermic men.

PURPOSE: Although helpful for defining extratesticular obstruction, the testis biopsy offers limited information on nonobstructive azoospermic testes. Guided by diagnostic biopsies, testis sperm extraction procedures fail in 25% to 50% of patients with nonobstructive azoospermia, largely because it is clinically difficult to know where sperm are located. To provide a more complete assessment of spermatogenesis in nonobstructive azoospermic patients and to simplify the confirmation of sperm production in men with obstruction, we use a systematic, fine needle aspiration "mapping" procedure. We summarize the diagnostic findings in a series of azoospermic men. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From 118 azoospermic infertile men (22 with obstructed and 96 with nonobstructed azoospermia) fine needle aspiration data were used to generate location specific, sperm frequency maps for obstructed and nonobstructive azoospermic testes to determine if "sperm rich" locations existed. RESULTS: Fine needle aspiration map analysis revealed that all aspiration locations from obstructed cases showed sperm. In men with nonobstructive azoospermia, sperm was identified in the right testis in 134 of 652 (20.5%) and in the left testis in 151 of 716 (21.1%) separate aspirations. Rates of sperm detection among various intratesticular sites were not statistically different. In 27.1% of cases the fine needle aspiration map found sperm in men with sperm negative biopsies. The likelihood of heterogeneity in fine needle aspiration sperm findings was 25% within individual nonobstructive azoospermic testes and 19.2% between testis sides. At post-procedure followup of 88 patients (74%), no clinical or surgical complications were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Testis fine needle aspiration mapping is a simple, reliable and informative diagnostic tool in the evaluation of azoospermic infertile men.

Biopsy, Needle↗

Thyroglossal duct cysts: diagnostic criteria by fine-needle aspiration.

OBJECTIVE: To document the cytologic diagnostic criteria of fine-needle aspirations of thyroglossal cysts. DESIGN: Midline cervical masses were studied by fine-needle aspiration, and those 11 thyroglossal cysts that were resected served as a baseline for the evaluation of aspirates from 33 similar lesions that were not removed. SETTING: Physicians' offices, hospital outpatient clinics, and the aspiration service of a university department of pathology. PATIENTS: Forty-four patients noting a mass in the anterior neck or found by physicians to have such a mass. INTERVENTIONS: Fifty-one aspirations (second aspirates in seven patients); surgical removal of the cysts in 11 patients. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Aspirates were examined for cells, other particulate matter, and any extracellular material in the background. RESULTS: Smears from thyroglossal cysts are low in cellularity, and inflammatory cells are more numerous than epithelial cells. CONCLUSIONS: Fine-needle aspiration contributes to an accurate preoperative diagnosis of thyroglossal cysts, allowing a Sistrunk procedure to be performed in these patients rather than an inappropriate local resection.

Adenoma↗

Ultrasound guided versus conventional joint and soft tissue fluid aspiration in rheumatology practice: a pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: To compare joint and soft tissue aspiration using a conventional technique with an ultrasound (US) guided technique. METHODS: In the conventional group, 32 joints in 30 consecutive patients referred for joint aspiration and injection to an experienced consultant rheumatologist were aspirated. In the US guided group, 31 consecutive patients were examined by US to confirm the presence and location of fluid. Following US examination, aspiration was performed by a second rheumatologist based on the US localization of fluid or under direct US guidance. RESULTS: In the conventional group, successful aspiration was achieved in 10 (32%) joints. In the US guided group, successful aspiration was achieved in 31 (97%) joints. The mean volume of fluid obtained from successful aspirations was similar in both groups (11.7 ml in the US group and 14 ml in the conventional group). CONCLUSION: The use of US to localize joint and soft tissue fluid collection greatly improves the rate of diagnostic synovial fluid aspiration, particularly in small joints. This has important implications for accurate administration of local steroid therapy and emphasizes the importance of US as a useful tool in clinical rheumatological practice.

Adult↗

Detection of tumor markers including carcinoembryonic antigen, APC, and cyclin D2 in fine-needle aspiration fluid of breast.

CONTEXT: The traditional triple test for breast cancer diagnosis is physical examination, mammography, and aspiration cytology. However, the accuracy of mammography on young women with nonatrophied breasts is poor compared with that for women older than 50 years, and additional methods for diagnosis of breast cancer are needed. OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), CA 15-3, and CA 125 concentrations in breast aspiration fluid are useful as breast cancer biochemical markers and whether APC and cyclin D2 gene promoter hypermethylation could be regarded as a breast cancer molecular marker. DESIGN: CEA, CA 15-3, and CA 125 concentrations were measured, and methylation status of the APC gene promoter 1A and the promoter region of the cyclin D2 gene were analyzed using a methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction assay of ex vivo breast aspiration fluid obtained from 49 samples of excised breast tissue. SETTING: The specimens were collected during a 1-year period in the tertiary care teaching hospital in Seoul, Korea. PATIENTS: Forty-nine patients with breast masses were surgically treated. Thirty-four patients had breast cancer, and 15 had benign breast disease. RESULTS: Aspiration fluid CEA concentrations were significantly higher in breast cancer cases than in cases of benign breast disease (mean, 69.90 ng/mg protein vs 0.68 ng/mg protein, respectively; P < .001). At 90% specificity of the assay (CEA, 2.13 ng/mg protein), the corresponding sensitivity for breast cancer detection was 62%, according to the receiver operating characteristic curve drawn. The APC gene promoter 1A and the promoter region of the cyclin D2 gene were methylated in 42% (14/33) and 70% (23/33) of the breast cancer aspiration fluid samples, respectively. A cumulative incidence of methylation of these 2 genes was 85% (28/33). The APC and cyclin D2 gene promoters were both unmethylated in the aspiration fluids from 19 women with nonmalignant breast disease. CONCLUSIONS: Breast aspiration fluid CEA concentration and the methylation of the APC gene promoter 1A and the promoter region of the cyclin D2 gene can be used as tumor markers to overcome some of the limitations of aspiration cytology. In combination with the mammogram and physical examination, assays for these markers could be used to help determine a definitive diagnosis when cytologic results are suspicious for malignancy.

Adult↗

Role of simple needle aspiration in the management of pneumothorax.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the role of simple needle aspiration in the management of pneumothorax. DESIGN: All patients presenting with a pneumothorax requiring intervention were included in this prospective study. Patients who were very sick or had tension pneumothorax were treated with direct intercostal chest tube drainage (ICTD) and others were subjected to simple aspiration. The procedure was deemed successful, if after aspiration the lung expanded completely or symptoms were relieved with residual pneumothorax of less than 15% of hemithorax. In case of failed aspiration ICTD was carried out. RESULTS: Fifty-seven patients with 59 pneumothoraces were included in the study. Of these, 24 were treated with direct ICTD; 35 (12 spontaneous, 11 secondary and 12 iatrogenic pneumothoraces) were subjected to simple aspiration. Ten (83.3%) of the primary, 1 (9.6%) of the secondary and 11 (91.7%) of the iatrogenic pneumothoraces responded to simple aspiration. There were no significant complications. The pain perceived and the duration of hospital stay was significantly lesser in the simple aspiration group. CONCLUSIONS: Simple aspiration should be the initial modality of treatment for primary spontaneous and iatrogenic pneumothoraces. For secondary spontaneous pneumothorax and in conditions where pleurodesis is indicated, ICTD remains the treatment of choice.

Adolescent↗

Sensitivity of bone marrow aspirates in the diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis.

Bone marrow aspirates are believed to provide a safer but less sensitive method in the diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) compared with splenic aspirates. We examined the effect of the number of fields and the time of observation on bone marrow smear sensitivity and compared it to our experience with spleen aspiration. Bone marrow smears of 98 patients and splenic aspirates from 120 patients were examined. Among 87 patients with VL, the sensitivity of bone marrow aspirates was 40.2%, 65.5%, 89.7%, 92%, and 95.4% at 1, 5, 20, 30, and 60 minutes, respectively. The sensitivity of spleen aspirate examination was 93% for 114 patients. One patient died of shock after spleen aspiration. A bone marrow smear is very sensitive if examined thoroughly, reaching a sensitivity similar to that of spleen aspirate. We propose that a bone marrow smear be established as the technique of choice for the parasitologic diagnosis of VL.

Adolescent↗

Effect of intraocular aspiration of sodium hyaluronate on postoperative intraocular pressure.

A prospective, randomized, masked study was conducted to evaluate whether intraocular aspiration of sodium hyaluronate used in cataract surgery influenced postoperative intraocular pressure (IOP). Ninety-nine patients (105 eyes) underwent uncomplicated extracapsular extractions with posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation using 1% sodium hyaluronate (AMVISC). In 53 eyes, sodium hyaluronate was aspirated from the anterior chamber prior to wound closure. Sodium hyaluronate was left in the anterior chamber of 52 eyes. The IOP of 33 of the patients was measured 4 hours after surgery. No significant difference was found between the pressure in the eyes from which the sodium hyaluronate had been aspirated and the pressure in those from which it had not. The IOP of all the patients was measured on the first postoperative day. The mean 24 hours after surgery was 23.4 mm Hg in the aspirated eyes and 23.1 mm Hg in the not-aspirated group. Thirteen eyes in the aspirated group and 14 in the not-aspirated group had pressures above 30 mm Hg during the first 24 hours after surgery. There were no significant differences in visual outcome, patient discomfort, corneal clarity, anterior chamber inflammation, or subsequent IOPs during 3 months postoperative examination. Aspiration of sodium hyaluronate at the end of cataract surgery does not appear to significantly reduce either the incidence or the degree of postoperative pressure elevations.

Aged↗

Evaluation of cyclosporine nephrotoxicity by renal transplant fine needle aspiration.

Fine needle aspiration is a relatively safe, minimally invasive technique for morphologic evaluation of intragraft events in renal transplant recipients. We assessed the usefulness of this technique in the diagnosis of acute cyclosporine nephrotoxicity (NT). Two aspirate features considered indicative of NT were examined; tubular cell cytoplasmic isometric vacuolization (IV) and isolated graft lymphocytosis. Fifty-six adequate aspirates from 22 patients receiving cyclosporine were evaluated by the method of Hayry and von Willebrand. Retrospectively, four groups were identified for the purpose of this study: A, greater than 50% tubular cell population with IV (N = 11); B, less than 50% tubular cell population with IV (N = 15); C, graft lymphocytosis without IV (N = 15); D, normal aspirates (N = 15). A retrospective clinical diagnosis of cyclosporine NT was present at the time of ten aspirations in Group A (91%) and one each in Groups B (7%) and C (7%, P less than 0.001). No patients with aspirates in Group D had NT. The remaining aspirates were from patients with multiple clinical diagnoses. Plasma cyclosporine levels did not correlate with IV or graft lymphocytosis. Serum creatinine levels were higher in patients from Group A as compared with Group D (P less than 0.03). We conclude that not all patients treated with cyclosporine or diagnosed with clinical cyclosporine NT demonstrate IV or lymphocytosis in graft aspirates. However, when isometric vacuolization occurs in greater than 50% of tubular cells, acute cyclosporine NT must be considered strongly. Isolated graft lymphocytosis is a nonspecific finding.

Biopsy, Needle↗

Fine-needle aspiration of inguinal lymph nodes in gynecologic practice.

Palpable inguinal lymph nodes are a common finding in gynecologic patients. Assessment of such nodes is especially important in the clinical staging of pelvic cancers. To determine the accuracy, safety, and usefulness of fine-needle aspiration in this setting, we retrospectively reviewed pathologic and clinical data from 62 consecutive aspirates of inguinal lymph nodes in 48 gynecologic patients, of whom 42 had cancer. Aspirates from 37 patients yielded diagnostic material. Aspirated tumor cells consistently reflected the primary tumor histology. Tumors included carcinomas of the vulva, vagina, and cervix, and carcinomas and mixed mesodermal cancers of the corpus and ovary. Node excision and clinical observations provided adequate follow-up for 19 positive and 15 negative aspirates, and identified no false positives and two false negatives. The role of fine-needle aspiration varied with the tumor type and stage. It provided the first microscopic diagnosis of cancer in six patients and the first diagnosis of metastasis in six others. Decisions concerning surgery, radiation ports, and chemotherapy frequently depended on the results of fine-needle aspiration. There were no complications from the procedure. Fine-needle aspiration is an accurate, safe, and useful method for assessing clinically suspicious inguinal nodes.

Biopsy, Needle↗

Diagnosis and treatment of cystic disease of the thyroid by aspiration.

One hundred forty-one cases of euthyroid solitary "cold" and "uniform" nodules, each of which contained at least 3 ml of fluid obtained on aspiration, are presented. Sixty-three patients had complete disappearance of swelling after one aspiration. Seventy-eight patients were selected for surgery on the basis of cytologic findings of malignancy in the aspirated fluid (one patient), on the basis of recurrent cyst formation after one aspiration (17 patients; in these cases the incidence of malignancy was similar to that in solid, cold nodules), and on the basis of palpable tissue after aspiration that indicated a partially cystic lesion (60 patients). Surgicopathologic findings revealed six malignant lesions; all of these nodules were more than 3 cm in diameter. In percentage, 6.6% of the partially cystic and 2.5% of the purely cystic nodules were malignant. The color of the aspirated fluid did not add to the discriminant value of the aspirate. The identification of malignant conditions in thyroid cysts was handicapped by the yield of acellular material in three of five cases of malignant disease and in more than 50% of benign lesions. However, the study suggests that aspiration biopsy of cystic thyroid nodules when used in association with the above clinical criteria is a useful technique of selecting patients for operation and, by itself, is a safe and reliable means of treating the disorder.

Adult↗

The value of needle aspiration in the management of cellulitis.

Needle aspirations from 103 young, healthy patients (mean age 22 years) with cellulitis were prospectively analyzed to determine the percentage yield and causative organisms. A standard technique of needle aspiration was performed using a 22-gauge needle, a 10-cc syringe, and 1 cc of sterile water. Aspirations were performed at the leading edge and midpoint of the cellulitis (halfway between the leading edge and the center of the cellulitis). Fifteen of the 103 patients (14.5 percent) had positive aspirates. Nine of the 103 aspirates were positive at the leading edge (8.7 percent) and 6 of 70 were positive at the midpoint (8.6 percent), giving a total aspiration positivity of 8.7 percent (15/173). The organisms recovered were Staphylococcus aureus (53 percent). Staphylococcus epidermidis (27 percent), alpha-hemolytic streptococci (13 percent) and Streptococcus pyogenes (7 percent). The low-percentage yield and predictable organisms recovered speak against needle aspiration being a necessary procedure in a young, healthy population. Similarly, the site of aspiration does not increase yield. Empiric treatment with antibiotics aimed at staphylococcal and streptococcal organisms is appropriate.

Adolescent↗

[Fine needle aspiration of neck tumor. Application of cytological, bacteriological and hormonal examinations].

Aspiration of neck tumors with a fine needle combined with cytological, bacteriological and hormonal examinations greatly improved the accuracy of the differential diagnosis of the neck tumors. Fine needle aspiration cytology in 45 patients with thyroid tumor gave only 4% (1/25) false negative diagnosis and 0% (0/20) false positive diagnosis for carcinoma, whereas false negative and false positive diagnosis by palpation were 34% and 4%, respectively and those by soft tissue roentgenogram were 55% and 0%, respectively. Differential diagnosis of histological types of thyroid carcinoma was possible by cytology. Fine needle aspiration of cervical lymph nodes gave the diagnosis of malignant lymphoma, metastatic squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma or inflammatory changes. Bacterial culture from the aspirate yielded causative microorganism in 5 patients including 4 with tuberculosis. The specimens aspirated from thyroglossal duct cysts or branchial cysts showed specific appearance and cytological feature. The aspirate from a parathyroid cyst was watery clear and contained high amount of parathyroid hormone. Dark brown serous aspirate from extrathyroidal mass suggested metastatic lesion from occult papillary carcinoma of the thyroid in 2 patients. Demonstration of very high content of thyroglobulin of the aspirate determined by radioimmunoassay supported the diagnosis, which was confirmed later at surgery. This method has become a routine work in our out-patient clinic.

Adenocarcinoma↗