Diagnostic Accuracy of Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology in Ovarian Malignancies: A Correlation with Histopathology

Background: Ovarian cancer is often diagnosed at advanced stages, necessitating reliable, minimally invasive diagnostic methods. Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) offers a rapid alternative to histopathology, but its diagnostic accuracy remains debated. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of FNAC in ovarian malignancies by correlating cytological findings with histopathology. Methods: A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted at Department of Gynecological Oncology and Pathology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Dhaka, Bangladesh, from March 2015 and February 2016. Forty patients with suspected advanced ovarian malignancy underwent FNAC under imaging guidance. Cytological results were compared with histopathological diagnoses obtained from surgical or biopsy specimens. Diagnostic performance parameters were calculated using histopathology as the gold standard. Results: The mean patient age was 51.4 years. FNAC detected adenocarcinoma in 52.5% of cases, with papillary serous cystadenocarcinoma being the most frequent histological diagnosis (37.5%). FNAC correctly identified 36 of 37 malignant cases. Sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and overall accuracy were 97.3%, 100%, 100%, 75%, and 97.5%, respectively. Conclusion: FNAC demonstrates high diagnostic accuracy in ovarian malignancies and represents a safe, minimally invasive diagnostic tool. Its integration into institutional practice can aid in rapid diagnosis and treatment planning, particularly in patients unsuitable for primary surgery. DOI: https://doi.org/10.52783/jchr.v15.i5.9831