Sonographically guided fine-needle aspiration biopsies of adrenal masses in lung cancer patients, eleven-year experience

Abstract

Purpose. The aim of this retrospective study was to define the accuracy and safety of the ultrasonographically (US) guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) of the enlarged adrenals in the patients with lung cancer.

Patients and methods. In eleven-year period 64 patients with cytologically proven lung cancer underwent US-guided FNABs of adrenal masses. The accuracy of the method was assessed on the basis of cytology findings and the safety on the number of complications reported after the procedure.

Results. US-guided aspiration biopsy turned out to be accurate in 58/64 cases (91%), and very safe with only 4/64 (6%) minor complications. In 52/58 (90%) cases, the cytology sample was found to be malignant. In 6 cases (10%), isolated adrenal masses were adenomas.

Conclusions. We recommend US-guided FNAB as a safe and reliable diagnostic method that has many advantages over computer tomography (CT)-guided FNAB, such as safety, patient-friendliness, no X-rays and its reproducibility.