Fine-needle aspiration biopsy of the adrenal glands: A ten-year experience

We report on our experience in FNA biopsy of the adrenal gland: 177 biopsie s performed in the last 10 years. Cytologic diagnoses were divided into fou r groups: nondiagnostic aspirates (28%), primary adrenal lesions (13%), met astatic neoplasms (33%), and negative cases with known extra-adrenal malign ancies (25%). Among diagnostic smears and excluding the latter group, the p rocedure was 100% specific for malignancy, and 98% of the lesions Mere corr ectly diagnosed. There were no known false-positive or false-negative sampl es. Quality of diagnosis improves with careful smearing (avoids artifacts) and immediate evaluation (raises adequacy rates) by the pathologist. Althou gh the primary or secondary nature of most adrenal masses is readily appare nt, it is essential to correlate the clinical, laboratory and cytologic fin dings to reach the correct diagnosis. Furthermore, we believe that the prim ary site of many adrenal metastases must be defined on the basis of clinica l data. Diagn. Cytopathol. 1999,21:92-97. (C) 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.