FINE-NEEDLE ASPIRATION CYTOLOGY IN THE CLINICAL MANAGEMENT OF CHILDHOOD RHABDOMYOSARCOMAS

Purpose: The efficacy of fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) in the diagnosis of rhabdomyosarcomas was analyzed in a retrospective study. Patients and Methods: Thirty-six children were treated at Karolinska Hospital for rhabdomyosarcoma during a period between 1974 and 1987. I n 20 patients FNAC was performed from the primary tumor. Results: A co nclusive cytological diagnosis of rhabdomyosarcoma resulted in immedia te treatment in 16 patients. The remaining tumors were diagnosed as sm all round cell sarcoma (n = 2), inconclusive (n = 1), and lymphoma (n = 1). Open biopsy revealed the diagnosis of rhabdomyosarcoma in the fi rst three of these four patients. Histological findings from the patie nt with the cytological diagnosis of lymphoma were at first interprete d as the same, but reevaluation changed the diagnosis to rhabdomyosarc oma. The results are compared with those of a group of 16 patients wit h rhabdomyosarcomas primarily diagnosed histologically. The results at recurrences are also shown. Conclusion: FNAC in children with primary and recurrent rhabdomyosarcomas is a highly sufficient diagnostic met hod, comparable with histological diagnosis.