Cytopathology zyxwvutsrqpo 1994, zyxwvuts 5, 226-233 Hodgkin’s disease: diagnostic accuracy of fine needle aspiration; a report based on 62 consecutive cases F. zyxwvuts FULCINITI, A. VETRANI, P. ZEPPA, G. GIORDANO*, M. MARINO, zyxwvutsr G. DE ROSA* AND L. PALOMBINI zyxw Laboratory and Cytopathology Service and *Surgical Pathology Service, Institute of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples “Federico II”, Naples, Italy Accepted for publication 23 December 1993 FULCINITI F., VETRANI A., ZEPPA P., GIORDANO G., MARINO M., DE ROSA G. AND PALOMBINI L. (1 994) Cytopathology 5,22&233 Hodgkin’s disease: diagnostic accuracy of fine needle aspiration; a report based on 62 consecutive cases We report on our series of 62 cases occurring between January 1977 and December 1990, which were diagnosed as Hodgkin’s disease by fine needle aspiration (FNA) samples. The overall accuracy of the cytological diagnosis was high, with only four incorrect diagnoses and a positive predictive value of 93.5%. The value of FNA as a first level diagnostic technique in the screening of lymphadenopathies is discussed, as well as the limitations and pitfalls of the cytological diagnosis. Keywords: FNA, cytopathology, Hodgkin’s disease, diagnostic accuracy Maladie de Hodgkin: prbcision diagnostique de la cytoponction A l’aiguille fine; a propos d’une 6tude basee sur 62 cas consecutifs Nous rapportons une serie de 62 cas de maladie de Hodgkin observes entre janvier 1977 et decembre 1990, pour lesquels le diagnostic a ete port6 sur un materiel de cytoponction a l’aiguille fine. La precision globale du diagnostic cytologique etait Clevee, avec seulement 4 diagnostics incorrects et une valeur predictive positive de 93,5%. La valeur de la cytoponction zyxw a l’aiguille fine en tant que technique de diagnostic de premier niveau dans le bilan des lymphadknopathies est discutee, ainsi que les limitations et les sources d’erreurs possibles du diagnostic cytologique. Mots cles: cytoponction a I’aiguille fine, maladie de Hodgkin, precision diagnostique Morbus Hodgkin: Diagnostische Zuverlassigkeit von Feinnadelpunktaten; ein Bericht uber 62 Falle Berichtet wird iiber 62 zwischen Januar 1977 und Dezember 1990 diagnostizierte Falle von Lymphogranulomatose. Die Zuverlassigkeit der zytologischen Diagnose ist groD, bei nur 4 unrich- tigen Diagnosen und einem positiven pradiktiven Wert von 93.5%. Der Wert der Feinnadelpunktion als primarer diagnostischer Methode bei der Abklarung von Lymphadenopathien wird diskutiert, ebenso wie die Grenzen und Schwierigkeiten. Correspondence: Professor Lucio Palombini, Laboratory and Cytopathology Service, Institute of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples “Federico 11”, Via Sergio Pansini, 5, 1-80131 Naples, Italy.