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Fine‐needle aspiration cytology of articular and periarticular lesions
Author(s) -
Dodd Leslie G.,
Major Nancy M.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
cancer cytopathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/cncr.10615
Subject(s) - medicine , pigmented villonodular synovitis , fine needle aspiration , pathology , gout , cytology , synovial sarcoma , synovial chondromatosis , radiology , synovitis , soft tissue , biopsy , rheumatoid arthritis , temporomandibular joint
BACKGROUND The cytologic diagnosis of joint and articular surface‐based lesions traditionally has been accomplished by examination of fluids or effusions. Although exfoliative cytology remains an accurate diagnostic test, not all joint‐based lesions will produce effusions that are amenable to this type of examination. Fine‐needle aspiration (FNA) represents an excellent alternative to traditional cytologic or histologic methods of diagnosis in joint pathology. METHODS The authors reviewed FNA materials for the period 1992–2001 from lesions of joint spaces and periarticular soft tissues. All diagnoses based on cytologic materials that were included in this study were confirmed with histologic follow‐up. Cytologic and histologic materials were prepared using standard methods. RESULTS The authors found six relatively common lesions that were amenable to diagnosis by FNA. These included rheumatoid nodule, gouty tophi, ganglion cysts, pigmented villonodular synovitis, synovial chondromatosis, and synovial sarcoma. There are potential pitfalls in discriminating gout from pseudogout and synovial chondromatosis from chondrosarcoma. CONCLUSIONS In most instances, mass‐producing lesions of the joint space or the periarticular soft tissues can be diagnosed successfully by FNA. The common lesions are easily recognizable and are cytologically distinctive. Cancer (Cancer Cytopathol) 2002. © 2002 American Cancer Society.