Straight pins are used extensively for securing facial scarves in women and girls in the Middle East. Accidental aspiration often results in the pin lodging in the segmental bronchus with the sharp end pointing cephalad. Flexible bronchoscopy is superior to rigid bronchoscopy in retrieving these pins. We report on five cases successfully treated by fiberoptic bronchoscopy under general anesthesia.

Forty‐two fine‐needle aspirates (FNA) of the mediastinum were reviewed from 1984–1995. The clinical, radiologic, pathologic, and cytologic material was studied. Twenty‐five males and 17 females had an age range from 10–72 yr and a mean of 41 yr. Common complaints were chest pain, dyspnea, and cough. Thirty‐eight tumors were in the anterior/superior mediastinum. Fifty‐seven percent were primary neoplasms (Hodgkin's lymphoma, 7; non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma, 6; thymoma, 3; germ‐cell tumor, 3; thymic carcinoid and angiosarcoma, 1 each; and malignant not otherwise specified, 3). Twenty‐four percent were metastatic tumors (carcinoma, 9; and sarcoma, 1). Twelve percent were benign conditions (granulomatous disease, 2; multinodular goiter, 1; extramedullary hematopoesis, 1; and one thymic cyst). Seven percent were inconclusive. FNA yielded adequate tissue for diagnosis in 83% and a correct diagnosis in 86%. There was one false‐negative and no false‐positive diagnosis. FNA is a useful tool for accurate tissue diagnosis of mediastinal masses. Diagn. Cytopathol. 1998;19:428–436. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

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Forty-two fine-needle aspirates (FNA) of the mediastinum were reviewed from 1984-1995 and cytologic material was studied. Twenty-five males and 17 females had an age range from 10-72 yr and a mean of 41 yr. Common complaints were chest pain, dyspnea, and cough. Thirtyeight tumors were in the anterior/superior mediastinum. Fiftyseven percent were primary neoplasms (Hodgkin's lymphoma,7;6; thymoma,3;3; thymic carcinoid and angiosarcoma, 1 each; and malignant not otherwise specified, 3). Twenty-four percent were metastatic tumors (carcinoma, 9; and sarcoma, 1). Twelve percent were benign conditions (granulomatous disease, 2; multinodular goiter, 1; extramedullary hematopoesis, 1; and one thymic cyst). Seven percent were inconclusive. FNA yielded adequate tissue for diagnosis in 83% and a correct diagnosis in 86%. There was one false-negative and no false-positive diagnosis. FNA is a useful tool for accurate tissue diagnosis of mediastinal masses. Diagn. ResultsWe had a total of 42 patients with an age range from 10-72 yr and a mean of 41 yr (Table I). There were 25 males and 17