Cytopathology practice in Lagos, Nigeria: our experience.

Abstract

Background: Fine Needle Aspiration (FNAC) is a simple cost effective and rapid diagnostic technique. It is used in addition with exfoliative/fluid cytology to help clinicians in the management of patients who present with abnormal masses in the body. This study is to present our experience of FNAC and non gynaecological cytology (NGC) in diagnostic cytopathology and highlight the varieties of samples for cytopathology analysis. Materials and Methods: This is a six year retrospective study of all FNAC and NGC specimen seen in Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja and Lag Path Consulting laboratory, Ikeja, Lagos State between January 2008 and December 2013. All cytopathology reports and records were retrieved and analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 20.Test for statistical significance was set at p<0.05. Results: A total of 1855 patients were seen during this period with a male female ratio of 1:3 and a mean age of 40.61±17.49 years. Breast FNAC was the most common request seen (37.4%) which was followed by fluid cytology (28%) and then thyroid (12.7%), soft tissues (10.2%) and lymph nodes (9.2%). FNAC breast, lymph node and soft tissues showed 29.5%, 22.2% and 8.9% malignancy rate respectively. Fluid cytology requests were seen more in extreme of ages. Conclusion: FNAC of breast lumps, fluid/exfoliative cytology and thyroid enlargement are the most common specimens seen. Breast lump aspirates showed the highest malignant diagnosis. With continued use of this investigation, training and retraining of pathologists and clinicians in cytopathology is advocated for better result.