Value of fine needle aspiration cytology in the initial diagnosis of Hodgkin's disease -: Analysis of 188 cases with an emphasis on diagnostic pitfalls

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy and pitfalls of fine needle aspiration (FNA) cytology in the initial evaluation of Hodgkin's disease (HD) and to assess the influence of the pathologist's experience by comparing the results during two periods. STUDY DESIGN. A total of 170 cytodiagnoses of HD where reviewed and compared with those on the final histopathologic report. Thirty-three cases of HD with a previous, different cytologic diagnosis were also selected In all the cases under study, FNA was performed as part of the initial diagnostic approach. From a practical perspective, diagnostic errors were divided into major or minor according to the consequences on patient management. RESULTS: Fifteen cytologic dinglroses ofHD zoel cfolloil,erl by a different histologic diagnosis after. lymph node biopsy. In 33 cases of HD an erroneous cytologic diagnosis was,was given prior to biopsy. The sensitivity of the series was 82.4% (86.1% excluding nonrepresentative cases). The positive predictive value reached 91.2%. Sensitivity varied from 79.3% in the first period (1982-1990) to 84.9% in the second (1991-1999) (83.3% and 88.2%, respectively, excluding nonrepresentative cases) Similarly, the positive predictive value increased from 89% to 92.8%. Diagnostic errors with important consequences for patient management diminished from 14 in the first period to 5 in the second. CONCLUSION: Cytology offers a rapid and accurate approach not only for the diagnosis of recurrent HD but also for its initial recognition. These results increase the capacity of FNA as a first-level diagnostic technique in the screening his of lymphadenopathies.