ANALYSIS OF CELL BLOCK VERSUS CONVENTIONAL SMEAR STUDY IN FLUID CYTOLOGY

Abstract

Background: The cytological examination of body uids is routinely accepted, simple and minimally invasive technique. Cell block preparation along with conventional smear increases sensitivity of detecting malignancies by preservation of tissue architecture and obtaining multiple sections for special stain and immunohistochemistry. To assess and compa Objectives: re the diagnostic yield of conventional smear (CS) and cell block (CB) techniques in uid cytology. A total of 62 body uid specimen were simult Materials And Methods: aneously processed and examined by conventional smear and cell block technique. The morphological details, cellularity, architecture, nuclear and cytoplasmic details were studied in both CS and CB techniques. Out of 62 uid samples a total of 47 smears and 58 c Results: ell blocks had adequate material. On smears a total of 11 cases were malignant, 3 were suspicious and 33 were benign. On cell block a total of 15 cases were malignant, none was suspicious and 43 were benign. CB technique is superior to CS technique as it plays a signicant role Conclusion: in resolving the gray zone while determining the nature of cells on effusion whether reactive, atypical or malignant. Also it provides diagnostic advantage by making residual material available for special stains and IHC