Role of fine needle aspiration cytology in the diagnosis of cutaneous and subcutaneous swellings

A wide range of inflammatory as well neoplastic lesions can present cutaneous and subcutaneous swellings all over the body. FNAC (Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology) is considered to be first reliable technique for diagnosing them. To assess cytological spectrum presenting skin swellings. It was an observational study conducted in Department Pathology, Govt. Medical College, Jammu. performed on patients with palpable May-Grunwald-Giemsa (MGG) Papanicolaou (PAP) stained smears were examined under light microscope. The features studied diagnosis made. had 290 which included 169 (58%) males 121 (42%) females. On FNA examination, 111 (38.3%) non-neoplastic 179 (61.7%) neoplastic. Epidermal inclusion cyst most common non- lesion. Among lesions, 166 cases (57.2%) benign 13 (4.5%) malignant. Lipoma lesion also overall commonest our study. Metastatic carcinoma maximum among malignant lesions. Fine Cytology a rapid, initial assessment thereby guiding further management.