Background: Documentation of cyto-histological correlation and discrepancies is an important tool for assessing quality of cytological diagnosis. Regular monitoring of discrepancies provides a window of opportunity to improve the performance of cytology laboratory. Aims: To report cyto-histological discrepancies and factors associated with discrepancies. Settings and Design: This retrospective record based study was done at the cyto-histology laboratory in a tertiary care hospital in Gujarat. Materials and Methods: The samples in which both Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) and histology examination was done during 2015-2017 were included in the study. Diagnoses of these examinations were compared and discrepancies noted. Discrepancies were classified based on organ involved, size and nature of the lesion. The results were reported as proportions. Results: The cyto-histological discrepancies were observed in 36 out of 150 samples (24%). Maximum discrepancies were observed in lymphnodes followed by thyroid and breast lesions. There was no significant difference between rate of discrepancies and size of the lesions. Cyto-histological discrepancies were found more in benign/reactive lesions as compared with malignant lesions (91% vs 9% respectively). Out of 36 discrepancies, 32 samples were benign and 2 samples were malignant, on both the cytology and histology examination with different subtype. Conclusion: Out of total 150 samples, agreement between cytology and histology reports was found in 114 samples; and discrepancy was noted in 36 samples. Documentation of cytohistological correlation is a useful tool to report discrepancies and factors associated with it. This can be monitored on regular basis as a measure to improve quality.

Keywords: Discordance; Discrepancies; Error; Quality Assurance; Quality Control; Quality Improvement