Fine‐needle aspiration biopsy of small round blue cell tumors of childhood

Abstract

One hundred twenty‐eight palpable and deep‐seated fine‐I needle aspiration biopsies (FNAB) were done on pediatric m patients at James Whitcomb Riley Hospital for Children and Indiana University Hospital between 1985 and 1988. During that 4‐year period, 71 (56%) benign and 49 (38%) malignant diagnoses were made. Only eight (6%) of the FNAB were considered inadequate. Thirty‐nine (80%) of the malignant aspirates were small round blue cell tumors of childhood (SRBCT). The SRBCT consisted of 21 (54%) lymphomas, 7 (18%) Ewing's sarcomas, 3 (8.5%) neurobiastomas, 3 (8.5%) rhabdomyosarcomas, 2 (5.0%) medulloblastomas, 2 (5.0%) Wilms' tumors, 1 (3.0%) retinoblastoma, and 1 (3%) granulocytic sarcoma. Fifteen I (38%) of the SRBCT aspirates were obtained to render a 1 primary diagnosis and 24 (62%) documented recurrence. Various combinations of electron microscopy, imniunocytochemistry, and other special stains were used to confirm the diagnosis in 11 (28%) cases. These cases consisted of five lymphomas, two rhabdomyosarcomas, two Ewing's sarcomas, one neuroblastoma, and one granulocytic sarcoma. The technique of FNAB is a successful diagnostic tool for documenting primary and recurrent : SRBCT in a pediatric population. Cancer 1992; 69: 1067‐1073. Copyright © 1992 American Cancer Society