Guided FNAC of nodular lesions in liver

Introduction: A focal mass or a nodule in the liver has become easily accessible to the needle of a pathologist, courtesy the rising numbers of guided FNAC. Precise localisation of lesions helps in studying the cytological features in greater detail, of the area in question. A targeted needle aspiration achieves high rates of sensitivity and specificity with regard to the varied spectrum of the pathologies encountered in liver especially when correlated with serological tests. Thus present study was carried out with aim to assess the role of guided FNAC in the diagnosis of nodular lesions of liver and to study their cytomorphology. Materials and Methods: It is an observational, prospective study of 130 adequate aspirates from liver nodules done at tertiary care hospital over two year period. All patients presenting with nodular liver mass detected on imaging techniques were selected for FNAC under USG or CT guidance. Another pass was taken from the surrounding liver to ascertain the presence of parenchymal changes like fatty change, cirrhosis and dysplasia. Results: Adequate aspirates from 130 cases were studied. Lesions were categorised into non neoplastic (11) and neoplastic which were further classified benign (1), primary malignancies (31HCC, 4 cholangiocarcinoma) metastasis (72) and undifferentiated malignancies (11) respectively on cytology. Conclusion: Guided FNAC of the liver is a rapid simple and precise method of identifying the pathology in liver nodules. It can be a useful modality to triage the patients and decide further line of management.