A Cytopathological and Histopathological Correlation Study of Benign and Malignant Paediatric Age Group Tumour

Objective: Cancer is a rarity in childhood. It is a major cause of death in pediatric age group. Present study was aimed to evaluate role of cytology in diagnosis of malignancy in pediatric age group and correlate these finding with Histopathology. Method: In present study, 100 cases of pediatric malignancy were studied under the age group 0-14 years in our series. Cytosmears made from material obtained by FNAC. In neuromalignant cases cytosmears were prepared by squash technique. Histopathology was done on lump removed by surgery. Stained by rapid papanicoloau techniques, hematoxylin and eosin, and May grunwald giemsa stains. For histopathology, routine Hematoxylin and Eosin staining was done. Result: Out of 100 cases, satisfactory aspiration was obtained in 87 (87%). Out of these, 87 cytosmears, the diagnosis was consistent with histopathology in 70 cases and not consistent in 17 cases. Therefore, an accuracy rate of 80.4% was obtained. Commonest malignancy was of kidney, mainly wilm's tumour (25%). Lymphoma was second common (22%) followed by soft tissue sarcoma (18%). FNAC is feasible, rapid and inexpensive first approach in evaluation of cases of pediatric tumour but cytological diagnosis on FNAC is not a substitute for the histological diagnosis on tissue section. In 0-5 yrs. age group, Kidney tumours were the commonest malignancy. In 5-10 yrs. age group commonest were lymphomas and in 10-14 yrs. age group soft tissue tumours formed the main type. Male preponderance was seen in all malignancies except malignant teratoma, gonadal tumours and neuroblastoma.