Cytology of primary skin tumors

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the role of fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) in the diagnosis of primary skill and adnexal tumors and to study the cytomorphology of various primary skin and adnexal tumors. STUDY DESIGN: FNAB was routinely done in 18 cases of skin and adnexal tumors, and the cytologic diagnosis, along with detailed cytomorphology, was correlated with subsequent histology RESULTS: FNAB was clone on 15 cases of primary skin tumors and 3 cases of recurrent lesions. FNAB successfully established the benign or malignant nature of skin tumors in 16 of 18 cases (88.9%). However, subtyping teas possible in only 12 of 18 cases (66.7%). CONCLUSION: Clinical history and physical findings ale essential to the proper diagnosis of adnexal tumors. Knowing the cytologic features of primary skin neoplasms helps distinguish them from tumors metastatic to the skin and more commonly referred for FNAB.