FINE-NEEDLE ASPIRATION BIOPSY IN CHILDREN

Background: Fine needle biopsy (FNB) in children has been slow to gain acceptance compared with the use of the technique in adults where it is regarded as standard clinical practice in screening significant lym phadenopathy and suspicious masses. We report our early experience wit h FNB in the paediatric population. Methods: Fifty-two biopsies were p erformed between June 1991 and June 1993. The age of the children rang ed from 6 months to 14 years (median 2 years, mean 5 years). Results: A definite diagnosis on cytology alone was obtained in 67%. The pathol ogist was certain of malignant or nonmalignant potential in 79% (67% b enign and 12% malignant) and unsure in 21% (17% benign and 4% malignan t). There were no false positive or false negative diagnoses of malign ancy. Surgical excision or biopsy was performed in 33%. Fine needle bi opsy assisted in planning surgery in 12%. Surgery was necessary for a definite diagnosis in 21% and FNB assisted 42% of the patients to avoi d surgery altogether. Conclusions: Fine needle biopsy is simple. minim ally invasive and useful in the evaluation of children with suspicious lymph nodes and masses.