Rural people and fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC)--some findings in North Bengal Medical College, Darjeeling, West Bengal.

A hospital based interdepartmental collaborative study was carried out from 1st July to 30th September, 2000 on 269 rural people residing in six districts of the northern part of West Bengal and attending the Pathology Department in North Bengal Medical College for Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) after being referred from different clinical departments. The objectives of the study were to study some aspects of the outcomes of FNAC among rural people and to suggest for its wider application in rural community through Community Health Centre/Rural Hospital/Block Primary Health Centre. The results shows that Hindus (80.3%) are attending more in number than Muslims (14.13%), Christians (4.83%) and Buddhist (0.74%); 53.54% of the population are in 11-40 years age group. In benign conditions 76.95% are coming from up to 100 kms. of N.B.M.C; people in lower per capita income group of up to Rs.400/- per month are attending twice in number than those in the income groups of Rs.401/- and more per month. In malignancy however people do not think of distance or expenses due to seriousness of the diseases. In 14.5% cases FNAC remains inconclusive whereas in 85.5% cases it provides definite diagnoses.