Objective: To determine the accuracy of Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) in cases of gallbladder mass.
Study design: Comparative study.
Place and duration of study: Surgical Units of Mayo Hospital, Lahore and Lahore General Hospital, Lahore in collaboration with the Department of Radiology, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Lahore and Department of Pathology of PGMI, Lahore, from September 2006 to September 2007.
Methodology: Ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration cytology was done in all cases and histopathological findings were confirmed with open/laparoscopic biopsies. The results of these two modalities were compared.
Results: Fifty cases with mean age 60.71+11.073 years presented with mass gallbladder underwent FNAC. Smears showed adenocarcinoma 23, undifferentiated carcinoma in 7, dysplasia and suspicion of malignancy in 5, hemorrhagic background without malignant cells in 12 and inflammatory cells with no malignancy in 3 cases. Results compared with open/ laparoscopic biopsy showed a sensitivity, specificity and Positive Predictive Value (PPV) of 72.91%, 100% and 100% respectively.
Conclusion: Ultrasound guided FNAC is a safe and less invasive diagnostic modality for diagnosing carcinoma gall bladder preventing the patient to undergo major surgery and helps in better quality of life.