Radha S, Afroz T

This study is to evaluate the role of fine needle aspiration cytology in diagnosis of cutaneous and subcutaneous metastatic deposits. Analysis of twenty two cases of subcutaneous nodules was done from January 2004 till date. Out of these eight nodules were diagnosed as metastatic deposits. In four cases primary was undiagnosed and four were from diagnosed primaries. Fine needle aspiration is a very reliable and safe procedure and is of diagnostic importance because they may be the first manifestation of an undiagnosed internal malignancy, the first indication of a metastatic deposit in a adequately treated malignancy.

Key words: subcutaneous metastasis, aspiration cytology