The results of cytologic diagnosis of bone tumors

: The results of bone tumor cytological diagnosis in 968 patients examined and treated at the Institute Clinic (1988-1997) were analyzed. Histological examinations were performed in 479 cases. The share of cytologically inconclusive findings was significantly higher with benign lesions (17.5%) than malignant tumors (9.0%; p(0.05). The sensitivity and specificity of cytological analysis were 94.7 and 93.4%, respectively; positive predictive value--96.7, negative--89.8 and overall diagnostic accuracy--94.3%. Histological pattern of tumor was correctly identified in 73.7% of malignancies.