FINE-NEEDLE ASPIRATION CYTOLOGY OF ORBITAL MASSES

OBJECTIVE: To review our experience with fine needle aspiration of orb ital lesions. STUDY DESIGN: Over an eight-year period, 24 orbital fine needle aspiration (FNA) samples were recorded, 22 of them adequate fo r interpretation. RESULTS: There were two benign tumors. There were 14 malignant tumors, 5 primary, 8 metastatic and 1 malignant and origina ting in the nasal cavity, invading the orbit. In two cases the origina l tissue diagnosis was incorrect and was revised by the fine needle as pirate. There were six nonneoplastic cases. In one case an infectious agent was identified, and another showed atypical lymphoid cells. Of t he two nondiagnostic cases, one seas compatible clinically with an orb ital pseudotumor, and the other had no available follow-up. A specific diagnosis was achieved in 18 of 24 instances, or 75% of the cases. CO NCLUSION: FNA is useful in the workup of an orbital lesion, leaning to prompt diagnosis and treatment.