Histopathological pattern of Orbito-Ocular Lesions, a retrospective hospital-based study spanning 15 years

Background: Many previous studies on orbito-ocular lesions are skewed in favour of the neoplastic lesions in general and the malignant lesions in particular. This, therefore, creates a vacuum on the spectrum of these lesions, thus may result in problematic diagnostic bias by the ophthalmologist and pathologist. Objective: To give the spectrum and relative frequencies of orbito-ocular biopsies and by extension orbito-ocular lesions/diseases at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH). Materials and Methods: A retrospective descriptive study of all cases of orbito-ocular biopsies with histopathologic diagnosis. Results: There were 236 orbito-ocular biopsies. The male to female ratio was slightly in favour of the females. Orbito-ocular biopsies had a wide age range that spanned from the 1st to 10th decade, mean age in the 3rd decade (20-29years) and a peak age in the 1st decade (0-9 years). The neoplastic lesions were the prevalent indication for orbito-ocular biopsies (63.72%) while the conjunctiva (58.10%) was the most common site for orbito-ocular biopsies. Conclusion: This study noted a wide array of orbito-ocular lesions for which biopsies were done for histopathological diagnosis. This we hope will in no small measure increase the diagnostic precision of the ophthalmologist and the pathologists in our own environment

Histopathological pattern of endoscopic gastric biopsies in dyspeptic patients in a Nigerian population

Background and Objective: Dyspepsia is one of the most common complaints encountered in the general outpatient and gastroenterology clinics in Nigeria. Histopathological assessment of endoscopic gastric mucosa biopsy is crucial to delineate the exact cause of dyspepsia to guide patients' management. This study aimed to determine and document the histopathological basis of dyspepsia among dyspeptic patients at our facility. Material sand Methods: This was a three year descriptive retrospective study and the materials consisted of all gastric endoscopic biopsies taken from clinically diagnosed dyspeptic patients sent to the Department of Histopathology of the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, Nigeria. Results: The biopsies were from 64 (53.2%) male patients and 56 (46.8%) female patients, giving a male to female ratio of 1.14:1. The age range of the patients was 28-82 years with a mean of 56 years at presentation. Helicobacter Pylori (H. Pylori) bacilli were identified in the samples of 42 (35%) patients but absent in samples of 78 (65%) patients. The histopathological pattern of the aetiological basis of dyspepsia in this study consisted of gastritis (96, 80%), functional (17, 14.2%), adenocarcinoma (4, 3.3%) and polyps (3, 2.5%). H. Pylori bacilli were seen only in patients with gastritis (42/96, 43.8%), and it affected 19 (45.2%) male patients and 23 (54.8%) female patients. Chronic active H. Pylori associated gastritis (24, 25%) was the most common form of gastritis seen during the study period. Conclusion: The main organic cause of dyspepsia in our setting was chronic gastric followed in the distant by gastric adenocarcinoma and polyp. Dyspepsia and H. Pylori associated gastritis did not show a significant gender predilection

Diagnostic outcomes of bone marrow aspirate and trephine biopsies performed at a hospital in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Background: Bone marrow aspiration and trephine biopsy (BMAT) are widely performed in adults to evaluate haematological and malignant conditions. However, the diagnostic yield from the procedure in unselected patients in the South African public sector has not previously been described. Objectives: We identified the main indications and most common diagnoses encountered for BMAT and described the demographic and blood profiles of patients, including HIV-positive patients, who had undergone the procedure at a tertiary hospital in KwaZulu-Natal.Methods: We retrospectively reviewed laboratory data from January 2016 to December 2016n for all patients aged ≥ 13 years who underwent the procedure and stratified findings by demographic data.Results: Among 120 BMAT biopsies studied, 80 (67%) cases were performed to evaluate suspected malignancy and a further 40 (33%) cases for non-malignant indications. The main indications for bone marrow examination were: cytopenias 38 (32%), lymphoma 35 (29%), leukaemia 21 (18%), and multiple myeloma 17 (14%). BMAT results revealed that 60 cases (50%) were malignant in origin, 30 cases (25%) were non-malignant and 30 cases (25%) were classified as normal. The common diagnoses were: leukaemia, 24 (20%); multiple myeloma, 16 (13%) and lymphoma, 13 (11%). Cases aged ≥ 50 years were more likely to have a malignant diagnosis (odds ratio: 5.8 (95% confidence interval: 2.2­17.1)bp-value < 0.001). Conclusion: The diagnostic yield of BMAT was high, with significant abnormalities detected in three quarters of cases. Haematological malignancy was the more common diagnosis. Increasing age was associated with an increase in reporting of haematology malignancy

Accuracy of digital rectal examination to diagnose prostate cancer confirmed by needle biopsy reports: A 3­year hospital-based study

Background: Digital rectal examination (DRE) is an indispensable tool for provisional diagnosis of prostate diseases. When abnormal prostate examination findings are elicited, a diagnosis of prostate cancer (Pca) is usually entertained and further tests to confirm or rule out the presence of Pca demands histological examination of biopsied tissue. A combination of DRE findings and serum PSA increases the predictive value for Pca diagnosis. In this study, we evaluated the degree of accuracy of DRE to diagnose Pca confirmed by histology reports of biopsy specimens.Materials and Methods: Two hundred and six (206) patients were studied over a period of three years. Information retrieved from their case notes were entered into a well-structured protocol for management of prostatic diseases. Analysis of variables collated was performed with the statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS) version 20.0. Frequency table was used to analyze categorical variables while descriptive statistics was used for continuous variables. Level of significance was set at P<.05.Results: 206 patients were studied with mean age of 68.23±8.71 years ranging from 48 to 91 years. Men in the Pca group were older than those in the BPH group. Abnormal DRE was associated with high grade tumours, and high level of aggressive tumour characteristics by WHO grade group standard.Conclusion: DRE has a high level of accuracy in predicting a diagnosis of Pca which was confirmed by histology reports especially in prostates with abnormal findings

Profil clinique et anatomopathologique du cancer du sein aux Cliniques Universitaires de Kinshasa

Introduction. Le cancer du sein représente un problème de santé publique majeur à travers le monde, compte tenu de sa fréquence (20 à 25 % des cancers féminins) et du stade clinique au diagnostic avec une fréquence particulière des cancers localement évolués et des formes inflammatoires.Objectif : Décrire les caractéristiques sociodémographiques, anatomo-cliniques du cancer du sein aux CUK.Méthodologie.Etude descriptive et rétrospective portant sur tous les cas de cancer du sein diagnostiqués et traités aux CUK sur une période de 15ans (soit du 1er janvier 2003 au 30 juillet 2018).Résultats.L'âge moyen des femmes au diagnostic était de 47,50±10,75 ans. La plupart des patientes étaient mariées, multipares avec une parité moyenne de 3,74±2,495 et non ménopausées. Le nodule mammaire était le principal motif de consultation (47,5%) et la majorité des patientes ont consulté douze mois après le début de la maladie (36,3%) et cela au stade 3 (56,0 %) et l'extension ganglionnaire a été observée chez 61,27%. La taille moyenne de la tumeurétait de 8,02±3,71.Le carcinome canalaire infiltrant était le type histologique le plus fréquent dans 82,5% des cas, la majorité des tumeurs étaient de grade histopronostique II dans 47,54% des cas.83% des tumeurs étaient hormonodépendantes. Seulement 35,85 % des tumeurs qui surexprimaient le HER 2/Neu.Conclusion.La plupart des patientes ont consulté plus de douze mois après le début de la maladie et le diagnostic est posé à un stade avancé de la maladie. La tumeur était de grande taille au diagnostic. Le sein gauche était le plus atteint et le quadrant supéro-externe. La majorité des tumeurs sont de grade histopronostique élevé et sont hormonodépendantes

Fine needle aspiration cytology fordiagnosis of benign breast disease in a resource limited setting

Background:A majority of breast lesionisbenignin nature; benignbreast disease is four times more commonin Nigerian women. The percentage of unsatisfactory smears in breast cytology appears to behigher in benign conditions compared to malignant ones.The aim of this study is to determine the effectiveness of cytopathology in the diagnosis of benign breast disease in our institution.Methodology: This is a prospective study of 96 patients with benign breast disease seen during the study period. The patients were subjected to clinical assessment, fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) and open biopsy histopathology (as standardreference test).Results:One hundred andseventy-fourpatients with both FNACand histopathology reports were initially evaluated, 96 (55.2%) had benign while the rest (78, 44.8%) harbored malignant lumps. On analysis of the benign lumps, FNAC achieved high sensitivity (98.8%), specificity (96.9%) and overall diagnostic accuracy (98.0%) compared to clinical assessment with values of 83.3% (sensitivity), 82.1% (specificity) and 82.2% (overall diagnostic accuracy). The false positive rate (FPR, 2.3%) and false negative rate(FNR, 1.6%) reported for FNAC were equally better than figures of 14.9% (FPR) and 20.0% (FNR) documented for clinical assessment.Cytopathology was utilized insubclassifying 76 (79.2%) out of the 96 biopsy confirmed benign lumps; 49 slides were correctly typed giving a concordant rate of 64.5%.Conclusion:Fine needle aspiration cytology in our index study showed appreciable concordance with open biopsy histologyin the diagnosis and sub-classification of benign breast disease

Relationship between hormonal profile and therapeutic testicular biopsy/ tese findings in azoospermic men

Background. Meta-analyses of the implementation of a surgical safety checklist (SSC) in observational studies have shown a significant decrease in mortality and surgical complications.Objective. To determine the efficacy of the SSC using data from randomised controlled trials (RCTs).Methods. This meta-analysis followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines and was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42015017546). A comprehensive search of six databases was conducted using the OvidSP search engine.Results. Four hundred and sixty-four citations revealed three eligible trials conducted in tertiary hospitals and a community hospital, with a total of 6 060 patients. All trials had allocation concealment bias and a lack of blinding of participants and personnel. A single trial that contributed 5 295 of the 6 060 patients to the meta-analysis had no detection, attrition or reporting biases. The SSC was associated with significantly decreased mortality (risk ratio (RR) 0.59, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.42 - 0.85; p=0.0004; I2=0%) and surgical complications (RR 0.64, 95% CI 0.57 - 0.71; p<0.00001; I2=0%). The efficacy of the SSC on specific surgical complications was as follows: respiratory complications RR 0.59, 95% CI 0.21 - 1.70; p=0.33, cardiac complications RR 0.74, 95% CI 0.28 - 1.95; p=0.54, infectious complications RR 0.61, 95% CI 0.29 - 1.27; p=0.18, and perioperative bleeding RR 0.36, 95% CI 0.23 - 0.56; p<0.00001.Conclusions. There is sufficient RCT evidence to suggest that SSCs decrease hospital mortality and surgical outcomes in tertiary and community hospitals. However, randomised evidence of the efficacy of the SSC at rural hospital level is absent

A prospective randomized comparative study of targeted versus empirical prophylactic antibiotics in the prevention of infective complications following transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy

Background: It is established that antibiotic prophylaxis prevents infection following transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy. This study compares the infective complications in transrectal prostate biopsy (TRPB) in empirical versus targeted prophylactic antibiotics. Patients and Methods: Urine and rectal swabs were obtained prior to TRPB. They were randomized into targeted antibiotic (TA) and empirical antibiotic (EA) groups. TA had prophylactic antibiotics according to rectal swab culture, whereas EA had the standard parenteral ciprofloxacin. They were followed up weekly for 4 weeks. Chi-square or Fisher's exact tests were used to compare categorical variables, Student's "t"-test was used to compare means of numerical variables, and P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: One hundred patients were studied, fifty in each group. The mean age was 66 years, with men aged 60­69 years accounting for 50% of the study population. Providencia stuartii, Escherichia coli, and Citrobacter freundii were the most predominant bacteria identified in the prebiopsy rectal swab culture, with resistance to ciprofloxacin (57%) being much more common than that to levofloxacin (21%). Postbiopsy infection occurred in one (2%) patient in the TA group and five (10%) patients in the EA group. Difference in the infection rate between the two groups was statistically significant (P = 0.042). Three of the patients with postbiopsy infection in the EA group had urosepsis and required hospitalization. Fluoroquinolone-resistant bacteria were responsible for infection in all the six patients. TA reduced the risk of postbiopsy infection by 5.6 folds. Conclusion: TA was associated with a decreased risk of infection in TRPB

Aspects histologiques des biopsies prostatiques à Cotonou

Le cancer de la prostate est devenu le cancer le plus fréquent et la deuxième cause de décès par cancer chez l'homme de plus de 50 ans et constitue un véritable problème de santé publique. Cette étude rapporte les résultats histologiques de biopsies prostatiques réalisées à Cotonou. 209 cas de biopsies prostatiques ont été colligés à partir des registres des laboratoires d'anatomie pathologique de la Faculté des Sciences de la Santé et de la Cité Houéyiho à Cotonou de juin 2010 - juin 2018 (08ans). Les paramètres étudiés étaient l'âge, la valeur du PSA, les aspects histologiques et le score de Gleason. L'âge moyen des patients était de 65,7±8,4 ans avec une limite inférieure de 41 ans et une limite supérieure de 87 ans. La tranche d'âge la plus importante était celle de 61-71 ans. La moyenne du PSA chez les sujets qui ont eu des biopsies de prostate était de 163,6 ng/ml avec un écart type de 62,1 ng/ml et le taux de PSA >10 ng / ml constituait 79,01 % des cas. 42,1 % des biopsies avaient révélés un adénocarcinome de la prostate alors que l'hyperplasie était révélée dans 57,9 % des cas. Le pourcentage de biopsies positives était de de 16,67 % (2/12) lorsque le PSA est entre 4 et 10 ng/ml et de 54,68 % (35/64) lorsque le PSA dépasse 10 ng/ml. Sur les 88 scores de Gleason obtenus, 30,7 % avaient un score 7 et 44,4 % avaient un score <7. 42.1% des 209 biopsies colligées étaient positives pour un adénocarcinome de la prostate. Des associations ont été retrouvées entre l'âge et le cancer

Sonographic Correlation of Thyroid Nodules with Ultrasound Aided Fine Needle Non Aspiration Cytology

Objectives: To describe the sonographic patterns of thyroid nodules in patients undergoing thyroid ultrasound; to correlate sonographic characteristics of thyroid nodules to ultrasound aided fine needle non aspiration(US-FNNA) cytology and to determine the sensitivity and specificity of Ultrasound in characterising thyroid nodules. Design: Cross sectional study. Setting: The department of Radiology at Mulago Teaching and National Referral Hospital in Kampala Uganda. The Hospital is a 1;500-bed unit providing tertiary diagnostic; curative; rehabilitative; preventive and teaching services. Patients were recruited from both Medical and Surgical outpatient thyroid clinics. Subjects: All patients with thyroid nodules 5 mm and who consented to have US aided-FNNA were enrolled consecutively. Results: One hundred and eighty one (181) participants were enrolled and final diagnoses were concluded in 177 of the participants (analysed) while four participants were excluded due to inadequate samples. The participants' age range was 19 to 83 years (mean age - 42 years ) and 93% were females. Five percent (n=9) were malignant; 18% suspiscious (n=34) and benign (n=134). The sonographic characteristics that were significantly correlated with final cytology diagnosis were a taller than wide AP diameter; micro-calcifications; heterogeneous and hypoechoic echo-patterns. Heterogeneous; hypoechoic and central vascularity had the highest sensitivity while wider than tall; anteroposterior diameter; no lymphadenopathy; and macro/no calcifications had the highest specificity. Conclusion: Sonographic features of micro-calcifications; taller than wide AP diameter; central vascularity and hypoechogenicity warrant US-FNNA. A bigger study correlating thyroid sonography with histological diagnosis is recommended

Intra- and interobserver reproducibility of grading of helicobacter pylori gastritis according to the updated sydney system

Aims. To study the intra- and interobserver reproducibility of Sydney System amongst pathologists in Cameroon as Sydney System gradation has not gained enough confidence in African pathologists. Methods. We performed a descriptive study including 100 patients who benefited from gastric biopsy by endoscopy. These biopsy specimens were stained with hematein and eosin and modified Giemsa; and read independently using the same microscope by two pathologists with four years experience and no experience with the updated Sydney System. Gastritis was graded according to the updated Sydney System. Levels of intra- and interobserver reproducibility were assessed using the unweighted kappa coefficient. Results. The intraobserver reproducibility of gradation of Helicobacter pylori density; activity; chronic inflammation; atrophy; and intestinal metaplasia showed respective values of kappa: 0.63; 0.34; 0.61; 0.48; and 0.82 for one observer against 0.42; 0.005; 0.41; 0.31; and 0.72 for the other. Interobserver reproducibility kappa values were; respectively; 0.41; 0.18; 0.57; 0.58; and 0.82. Conclusion. Results are encouraging but experience in the updated Sydney System should be improved. The later should be introduced as a means to grade and classify gastritis in Cameroon and African countries

Utility of Aspiration Cytology in the Evaluation of Oral and Maxillofacial Lesions

Background: Fineneedle aspiration cytology (FNAC) as a cheap diagnostic technique has helped reduce diagnostic turnaround time of pathological entities from different body sites. It is thus also important to evaluate its utility in the diagnosis of maxillofacial lesions in view of heterogeneity of morphological patterns noted for this site. Methodology: Cytology and corresponding histology reports for lesions from patients where both were available were compared for concordance between specific cytological diagnosis and final histological diagnosis. From these; sensitivity; specificity; positive predictive value and accuracy of FNAC were calculated. Result: Cytological diagnosis of maxillofacial lesions demonstrated a sensitivity; specificity; positive predictive value and accuracy of 100; 95.7; 97 and 98.2; respectively. The concordance of specific cytological diagnosis with final histological diagnosis was 85.5. Conclusion: This study concludes that FNAC is a cheap and diagnostically reliable technique for evaluation of maxillofacial lesions in a resource poor setting

Reproductibilite interobservateurs des scores de Knodell et Metavir en milieu Camerounais pour les hepatites virales chroniques

Introduction. Plusieurs scores ont ete proposes a l'histopathologie du materiel de biopsie hepatique dans le cadre de la prise en charge des hepatites virales chroniques parmi lesquels le score de Knodell et le score Metavir. L'objectif de notre travail etait de comparer la reproductibilite des scores Metavir et de Knodell pour determiner lequel serait le plus adequat dans les conditions d'exercice des pathologistes locaux. Materiel et methode. Trente blocs de biopsies hepatiques provenant de patients porteurs d'hepatite virale chronique B ou C ont ete retenus pour notre etude. Ceux-ci ont ete recoupes et colores a l'hemateine-eosine et au Trichrome de Masson. Les lames ainsi confectionnees ont ete interpretees independamment par deux pathologistes disposant d'au moins cinq annees d'experience avec etablissement des scores de Knodell et Metavir. Resultats. La concordance entre les deux pathologistes en ce qui concerne les composantes du score Metavir etait elevee pour la fibrose et moyenne pour l'activite. Pour ce qui est du score de Knodell la concordance pour la fibrose etait egalement elevee; elle etait moyenne pour les scores partiels de necrose intralobulaire et de necrose portale tandis que le pourcentage de scores globaux concordants etait faible. Conclusion. Nous avons observe une concordance acceptable pour les differentes composantes des deux scores cependant celle-ci etait meilleure pour le score Metavir. Le score Metavir pourrait donc etre utilise dans nos conditions d'exercice par des pathologistes non specialises en pathologie hepatique

Outcome of Bronchoscopic Biopsies in the University of Benin Teaching Hospital

Our study was done to evaluate our bronchoscopic techniques; sizes and diagnostic yield. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective study comprising all cases of bronchial biopsies done in the University of Benin Teaching Hospital from 2007 to 2011. All patients who had flexible bronchoscopy under general anaesthesia during the period under review where enrolled in the study. Results: There were a total of 16 patients: Nine males and seven females; with a mean age of 46.9 years. The main indications were cough (87.5); weight loss (62.5); X-ray findings of a chest lesion (87.5); chest pain (62.5); difficulty with breathing (31.3) and massive haemoptysis (25). Histology results showed inadequate samples in six and Bronchogenic carcinoma in four patients. The histology was pivotal in eight patients. Conclusion: Bronchoscopic biopsies are fraught with problems and other clinical investigative tools would certainly be important in improving the results

Indications et aspects histopathologiques des biopsies de l'endometre a l'Hopital Gyneco-Obstetrique et Pediatrique de Yaoundé (Cameroun)

Une étude rétrospective et descriptive de 118 biopsies endo-métriales a été effectuée à l'Hôpital Gynéco-Obstétrique et Pédiatrique de Yaoundé pour répertorier les indications et les aspects histologiques. Résultats. L'âge moyen était de 46,85 ±13,57 ans. Les saignements utérins anormaux et l'hydrorrhée vaginale constituaient les indications les plus fréquentes (84,76% et 8,47% respectivement). Le mode de prélèvement le plus utilisé était le curetage biopsique (91,5%). Les lésions histologiques étaient dysfonctionnelles (79,66%), cancéreuses(13,56%) et inflammatoires (6,78%). Les cancers les plus fréquentes étaient l'adénocarcinome endométrial invasif (50,0%) et le carcinome épidermoïde invasif (25,0%); Certains de ces cancers étaient probablement d'origine cervicale. Les lésions dysfonctionnelles (69,49%)et cancéreuses (13,55%) étaient statistiquement associées aux saignements utérins anormaux et les lésions inflammatoires (3,38%) à l'hy-drorrhée vaginale. Conclusion. Les lésions dysfonctionnelles occupent une place plus importante chez les femmes en période d'activité géni-tale et devraient être pris en compte dans la mise en place des algo-rithmes de prise en charge de la pathologie endométriale

Breast Carcinoma in a 7-Years- Old Girl

This is a case report of a 7 years old female patient diagnosed to have secretory carcinoma of the breast and secondary axillary lymph nodes metastasis after she presented with compliant of left breast swelling that lasted for about 6 months. It is a rare ( 1) type of breast carcinoma with distinct histologic features. Diagnosis of this carcinoma at fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is quite difficult and it is not a particularly aggressive tumor with excellent prognosis even in the presence of metastasis. Axillary locoregional lymph node metastases are uncommon. Several authors; therefore; recommend a conservative and non-aggressive treatment as much as possible. In her case; modified radical mastectomy with level II axillary dissection was done without hormonal or chemotherapy. So far; the therapeutic approach tends to be fairly flexible

Fine-Needle Aspiration Cytology in the Management of Thyroid Nodules: a Preliminary Retrospective Review of 53 Cases at King Faisal Hospital

This is a retrospective review of 50 thyroid nodules investigated by fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC). On clinical grounds alone; it is not easy to differentiate between benign and malignant lesions. The use of FNAC in the preliminary investigation of cases assisted in the clinical management of these nodules in ruling out malignancy and in helping to avoid unnecessary open biopsies and surgery. Its cost-effectiveness and rapidity of results and attendant relief of anxiety to the patient make it acceptable to both physician and patient. Materials and Methods: 53 thyroid nodules were evaluated clinically and sampled by FNA using 23G and 25G needles and 10 ml syringes. Ethanol fixed and air-dried methanol -fixed smears were prepared for Papanicolaou and Diff-Quik staining; respectively. Stained preparations were evaluated on the light microscope.Results: Cytodiagnoses included 24 nodular goitres; 19 colloid goitres; 5 cystic lesions; 1 hyperplastic lesion; 1 thyroidifis; and 1 fungal infection. Conclusions: FNAC was useful in ruling out malignancy and avoiding unnecessary surgery. Benign thyroid nodules were more frequent than thyroid carcinoma. Thyroid nodules were more frequent in female patients than male patients with a ratio of 6:1. Further studies are required to unravel any related aetiologic factors; if any

The Quality of Specimens Obtained By Fine-Needle Aspiration Biopsy: does Training Make a Difference?

Background: The aim of this study was to determine the outcome of a one-hour training session on the correct technique of fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) by assessing adequacy of FNAB specimens received from clinicians at an academic hospital.Method: Six clinicians were recruited and their FNABs assessed; six months prior to; and then again after; a one-hour training session in correct technique. Questionnaires were completed prior to the training session and after the subsequent six-month period; to determine the subjective assessment of the clinicians' perceived value of the training on their aspiration technique.Results: Five of the clinicians had never received training in FNAB technique. The adequacy of the aspirates for all six clinicians did not improve; although this was not statistically significant. They performed a median of 15.5 FNABs in the six months prior to training; and 13.5 FNABs in the six-month follow-up period. Five of the six clinicians subjectively perceived the quality of the aspirates to have improved; and all six recommended the training session to their colleagues.Conclusion: No improvement was noted after training; but the number of FNABs performed per clinician was suboptimal. Previous studies have shown that clinicians performing relatively few aspirates perform poorly; even if they have received adequate training. The fact that all six would recommend the training session to colleagues is encouraging; and the authors recommend that formal training in FNAB technique should be included in the undergraduate medical curriculum