Appraisal of aspiration cytology in management of Hodgkin's disease.

The value of aspiration cytology in the management of Hodgkin's disease is shown in this study of 228 patients and 403 aspirations; 385 from lymph nodes and 18 from extranodal masses. In all patients the initial diagnosis was established on surgical biopsy. Aspirates were helpful in staging, defining extension of unusual radiation fields, and in recognizing residual disease and relapses after therapy. Adequate material was obtained in 80% of aspirations. The diagnosis of Hodgkin's disease could not be established in the adequate cytologic sample in 9.9% of cases. In 5.5%, the diagnosis was that of benign reactive hyperplasia and in 4.4%, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Unsatisfactory material was usually obtained from nodes less than 1 cm in diameter or from residual lesions following radiation or chemotherapy. Only 14 of 93 such lesions proved to have active disease during follow up. There were no significant complications. Characteristics of the varied aspects of aspirated tumor cells found in Hodgkin's disease are described.