Needle aspiration cytology of intracranial lesions. A review of 84 cases.

Eighty-four needle aspirates of tumors and other intracranial lesions were diagnosed using smear preparations stained with Papanicolaou and Diff Quick stains. In 66 cases the cytologic diagnosis was compared with a histologic diagnosis on material removed during a craniotomy. In 92% of the cases the cytologic diagnosis agreed with the histologic diagnosis. In 21 cases the aspiration was performed under local anesthesia through a twist drill orifice. In none of these cases were there any complications secondary to the aspirations. The needle aspiration of intracranial lesions appears to be a safe and reliable diagnostic procedure.