Utility and outcomes of fine‐needle aspiration biopsy in Hodgkin's disease

Abstract

We present our 10‐year experience, including clinical utilization and outcomes, with fine‐needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) in Hodgkin's disease (HD). Eighty‐six cases from 68 patients with HD that were evaluated by FNAB were identified over a 10‐year period. Medical records of these 68 patients were reviewed. Thirty‐seven patients with primary HD underwent 41 aspirates. A diagnosis of HD was yielded in 12 and suggested in 13 cases (sensitivity 86.2%, false‐positive 0%). Nine were diagnosed as atypical lymphoid cells, four as hyperplasia/other, and three as unsatisfactory. With these diagnoses, six patients began treatment without tissue exam. Thirty‐five patients with suspected recurrent HD underwent 45 FNABs. Recurrent HD was confirmed in 15 and suggested in 12 aspirates (sensitivity 81.3%, false‐suspicious 14.3%). With these diagnoses, 22 patients began treatment for recurrence without tissue exam. FNAB is useful both for establishing a primary diagnosis and confirming recurrence in HD and thus has a high utilization at our institution. In many instances, patients can begin therapy, negating the need for formal tissue exam. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2002;26:278–282.