Fine needle aspiration cytology in the evaluation of lymphoreticular tumours of mediastinum.

The role of needle aspiration cytology in the diagnosis of 52 cases of lymphoreticular tumours of mediastinum was evaluated from January 1985 till May 1992. Cytological analysis showed 41 cases of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, 9 cases of Hodgkin's disease and 2 cases of benign lymphoid hyperplasia. The cytological interpretations were compared to histopathological diagnosis. In the present series, a definite diagnosis of lymphoma was possible in all the cases but exact subclassification was correctly possible in 89.6% cases. There was no false positive report or any complication.