Assessment of percutaneous fine needle aspiration cytology as a technique to provide diagnostic and prognostic information in neuroblastoma.

The International Neuroblastoma Staging System (INSS) criteria for diagnosis requires an unequivocal pathological diagnosis and favours the identification of prognostic markers in the samples. Surgical biopsies of the primary tumour and bone marrow (BM) sampling in metastatic disease constitute the major sources of tumour material for the laboratory. We analysed the possibility of percutaneous fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) constituting an alternative procedure to the conventional technique of sampling of the primary tumour in children with advanced neuroblastoma. From July 1987 through July 1998, 64 consecutive children suspected of having advanced neuroblastoma and referred to our institution underwent percutaneous FNAC of deeply located tumours. FNAC was performed using 22-gauge needles under ultrasound guidance, before any chemotherapy and within the first days following admission. No complication occurred after FNAC. The median number of the extracted tumour cells was 2.3x10(6) (range: 0-40.6x10(6)). Cytology analysis was possible in 59/64 cases (92%) and immunocytochemistry in 56/64 (88%) allowing confirmation of the diagnosis. N-Myc analysis was available in 46/64 (72%). In addition, the presence of a partial deletion of chromosome 1p (del 1p) was assessed, since 1992, in 24/47 cases (51%), where enough cells were available. FNAC of deeply located advanced neuroblastoma is safe and information is available in a few hours after admission. The provided material is reliable for confirmation of diagnosis and analysis of biological prognostic markers in the majority of cases. More invasive tumour sampling procedures are required only in selected cases.