Role of fine needle aspiration cytology in the diagnosis of exaggerated tissue response to metal from an implant.

摘要

We report a novel application of fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) to evaluate swelling around an or- thopedic implant. Exaggerated tissue response to metal from an implant is an uncommon condition. It occurs at varying intervals of time following implant insertion. Its diagnosis on FNAC has not been described previously in the cytology literature. A 26-year-old male presented in the orthopedics outpatient department with complaints of progressively increasing swelling over the lower end of the right forearm for 3 months. It was painless but mildly tender on palpation. Local signs of inflammation were absent. The patient had a past history of fracture of the radius near the lower end 8 years earlier. Implant insertion was done at that time. He had been asymptomatic since then.