Role of CT guided fine needle aspiration biopsy in the diagnosis of suspected lung cancer

 

Shiv Kumar¹, Priakshi Baruah^2*

 

Abstract              Problem Statement: Diagnosing lung cancer in its earlier stages has always been a challenging entity for physicians, surgeons and radiologists alike. Though FNAB has an established role in diagnosing lung cancer, the present study was conducted to evaluate the role of this modality, which is cost effective and at the same time, less time consuming. Methods: With the initial aim of diagnosing patients with suspected lung cancer, the present study, was carries out on 40 patients over a period of almost 2 years: from April 2014 to March 2016. Selection of patients was done from patients attending the Department of TB and Chest and biopsy was done in the department of Pathology in M.G.M Medical College and L.S.K. Hospital. Kishanganj, Bihar. The subjects are of varying ages and of both sexes. Relevant investigations along with a chest skiagram were done prior to undergoing a CT scan of the thorax. The present study employed the computerized software Inbuilt GE Sytec-4000 with CT equipment for CT evaluation of lung cancer. Results: A total of 31 males and 9 females suspected of having lung cancer were evaluated using CT guided FNAB. The male: female ratio was 3:4:1. The age range of both sexes was 16-70years. The age distribution is either sex revealed maximum number of patients belonging to 45-60 years. According to the age and sex distribution, the prevalence of lung cancer is more in male as compare to female, being more in middle and elderly age group, as seen in our study. Site of the lesion were recorded in all the patients included in the study of which 17 (42.5%) were hilar/mediastinal, 4 (10%) central, 13 (32.5%) peripheral and bot (central and peripheral or extensive were 6 (15%). 13 patients having squamous cell carcinoma were obtained by histopathological examination, among whom 2 had hilar (15.38%), 7 had central (53.84%), 2 had peripheral (13.38%) and 2 had extensive (15.38%) lesions. 8 patients having adenocarcinoma were obtained by histopathological examination, among whom 1 had central (12.5%), 4 had peripheral (50%) and 3 had extensive (37.5%) lesions. Conclusion: Most of the patients with lung cancer were above 40 years of age, with positive history of smoking and male predominance. Out of the 40 patients included in the study, the most common symptoms among patients with Bronchogenic carcinoma were cough (75%) chest pain (55%) haemoptysis (42.5%) and dyspnea (37.5%). So, in the present study we found that CT guided FNAB is most commonly used now-a-days to diagnose suspected lung cancer with high degree of accuracy and less chances of complication. The technique is safe, and minimally invasive as compared to other hazardous surgical procedures like open lung biopsy, thoracoscopy and bronchoscopy.

Key Word: FNAB, Lung Cancer, Adenocarcinoma, Bronchogenic carcinoma.