Retrospective Study on the Utility of FNAC in Diagnosing Soft Tissue Tumors and Tumor-Like Lesions

Background: Soft tissue tumors are a heterogeneous group of neoplasms that can present significant diagnostic challenges. Accurate and timely diagnosis is critical for effective treatment planning and improving patient outcomes. Fine-Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) is a minimally invasive diagnostic tool that has gained prominence for its utility in evaluating these tumors, offering a rapid and reliable method for distinguishing between benign and malignant lesions. Aim: This study aims to assess the diagnostic accuracy of FNAC in the diagnosis of soft tissue tumors and tumor-like lesions across multiple healthcare centers. Methods: A retrospective, multicentric study was conducted over 24 months, involving 95 participants diagnosed with soft tissue tumors or tumor-like lesions. Data were collected from patient records, including FNAC results and final histopathological diagnoses. The diagnostic accuracy of FNAC was evaluated by calculating sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV). Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 23.0. Results: Out of 95 cases, FNAC demonstrated an overall diagnostic accuracy of 84.2%. The sensitivity and specificity of FNAC in diagnosing malignant tumors were 85% and 83.3%, respectively. The PPV was 77.3%, and the NPV was 89.7%. A significant association was found between patient age and the likelihood of malignancy (p < 0.05), while no significant association was observed between gender and tumor type (p = 0.45). Conclusion: FNAC is a reliable and effective diagnostic tool for soft tissue tumors, particularly in distinguishing between benign and malignant lesions. The high NPV makes it especially useful in ruling out malignancies, reducing the need for more invasive procedures. The study highlights the importance of considering patient age in the diagnostic evaluation, as older patients are more likely to have malignant tumors. Recommendations: FNAC should be utilized as a first-line diagnostic tool in the evaluation of soft tissue tumors, with particular attention to patient age. Further research with larger sample sizes and prospective designs is recommended to validate these findings and explore the integration of FNAC with advanced imaging and molecular techniques.