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INTRODUCTION: Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is gaining popularity in diagnosing pediatric tumors because of ease of performance, easy reproducibility, and low morbidity. However, literature on its efficacy in resource-limited settings is lacking. Hence, the present study evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of FNAC in pediatric tumors in a North Indian center where ancillary diagnostic techniques are unavailable. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a four-year retrospective and 1-year prospective study. Both direct and radiology-guided FNAs were performed in children under 14 years. Cytomorphologic diagnoses were compared with the corresponding histopathologic diagnoses, wherever available, and the concordance rates determined. The diagnostic accuracy of FNAC for pediatric tumors was assessed using sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values. RESULTS: The present study included 125 cases of pediatric tumors, of which 65 were benign and 60 were malignant. The most common site of involvement was the head and neck. The most common benign pediatric tumor was pleomorphic adenoma, while the most common malignant tumor was non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The overall cytologic-histopathologic concordance was high (96.3%), with an overall sensitivity and specificity of 95.65% and 96.88%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: FNAC is a highly sensitive and specific technique for diagnosing pediatric tumors, with a high histopathologic concordance, even in resource-limited setups where advanced ancillary techniques are unavailable. Nevertheless, additional ancillary techniques can complement FNAC to improve this diagnostic accuracy further.
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BACKGROUND: Sedentary life style and consequent obesity prevail in both developed and developing nations; gender- and age-independently. Physical inactivity in a population in a life style transition-like Saudi Arabia-causes metabolic syndrome with its immediate and long-term complications. Healthcare workers are in a better position for role modeling and counseling of appropriate health behaviors. Personal physical activity and body built among physicians influences to some degree their exercise counseling. Realizing such principle necessitates gauging the extent of physical activity among physicians and assessing the likelihood of counseling the patients on physical activities. METHODS: A cross-sectional study enrolled primary health care physicians (PHCPs) from primary health care centers and general hospitals of two cities (Sakaka and Dumat Al-Jandal) of Aljouf region, Saudi Arabia. Both genders were included. English version of step-wise questionnaire of World Health Organization was used for data collection. RESULTS: The response rate was 64.2%. 65.2% of respondent PHCPs were doing moderate to vigorous physical exercise and 34.8% of them were physically inactive. Majority of physically inactive PHCPs had intention to increase their physical activity. Neither gender, nationality nor city-wise significant differences were recorded. However, physically active PHCPs significantly impart advice and role modeling on physical activity to their patients compared to physically inactive PHCPs (p<0.01). CONCLUSION: Most PHCPs in Sakaka and Dumat Al-Jandal cities were physically active and were able to impart the healthy behavior counseling to their patients. A strong intention prevailed to increase physical activity among physically inactive Primary Health care Physicians (PHCPs).