Cytomorphology of periarticular nodular swellings: One year study

Introduction: Periarticular nodular swellings represent one of the common manifestations of a wide variety of non-neoplastic and neoplastic lesions. It poses diagnostic challenge for both the clinicians and pathologists due to overlapping signs and symptoms and nonspecific laboratory findings. FNAC helps in categorizing these lesions as inflammatory, degenerative, benign and malignant and offers an early diagnosis. Aims and Objectives: To categorise different nodular swellings around synovial joints of upper and lower limbs and to study the Cytomorphology of these lesions. Materials and Methods: An observational case study of 100 patients with Periarticular nodules of upper and lower extremities referred to the cytology OPD of GMC, Nagpur Maharashtra, over one-year duration. Results: Commonest lesion found was ganglion cyst in 37% patients, followed by lipoma in 18% patients, epidermal cyst in 13% patients, inflammatory lesions in 11% patients, giant cell tumor of tendon sheath in 8% patients, benign mesenchymal tumors in 7% patients. Other interesting cases included gout in 2% patients, rheumatoid nodule, ochronosis, xanthoma, nerve abscess, synovial sarcoma, chloroma and metastasis of squamous cell carcinoma in 1% each.