Role of fine-needle aspiration in clinical management of transplant patients.

Abstract

Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) of superficial and deep seated lesions has been used with high sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis of neoplastic and non-neoplastic entities. However, studies of FNA in post-transplant patients are virtually absent. Six hundred and seventy-four allograft recipients (cardiac 288, renal 250, lung 131 and heart-lung 5) were reviewed. A total of 30 (25 heart, 4 lungs and 1 renal transplant) patients underwent an FNA procedure. There were 26 males and 4 females. Ages ranged from 18-63 yr (mean 48 yr). The most common entity aspirated was post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) in 12 cases, followed by inflammatory lesions in 10 cases, malignant epithelial neoplasms in 3 cases, and 1 case each of malignant mesenchymal tumor, pulmonary infarction, hamartoma of liver, fatty changes of liver, and a benign vascular lesion. Surgical or autopsy tissue was available in 19 cases (63.3%). There was an agreement between tissue diagnosis and FNA material in 18 cases (94.7%). One (5.2%) false negative case was recorded. This was a liver aspirate showing benign liver elements, which a surgical biopsy proved to be a bile duct hamartoma. No false positive cases were recorded. FNA is a highly sensitive and specific diagnostic tool in the management of post-transplant patients.

• Authors: M T Siddiqui, V B Reddy, M J Castelli, P Gattuso
• Journal: Diagnostic cytopathology (Diagn Cytopathol) Vol. 17 Issue 6 Pg. 429-35 (Dec 1997) ISSN: 8755-1039 [Print] United States
• PMID: 9407203 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Biopsy, Needle (methods)
• Cholestasis (diagnosis, etiology)
• Cytodiagnosis
• Female
• Humans
• Inflammation (diagnosis, etiology)
• Lymphoproliferative Disorders (diagnosis, etiology)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial (diagnosis, etiology)
• Organ Transplantation (adverse effects, pathology)
• Pulmonary Embolism (diagnosis, etiology)
• Sensitivity and Specificity
• Soft Tissue Infections (diagnosis, etiology)
• Transplantation, Homologous (adverse effects)