Collection of cytological specimens with a cell aspirator with reference to the wooden spatula method: I. A cell aspirator for collecting cytological specimens

Abstract

In order to make an exfoliative cytological diagnosis, the specimens must contain enough cells for examination. To achieve this, a cell aspirator has been designed consisting of a disposable syringe connected to a vacuum system and equipped with a cannula. When taking the specimen, physiological saline is applied drop by drop and the fluid is aspirated into the syringe together with the material from the lesion. This suspension is fixed and centrifuged, and the material in the pellet is then transferred to a glass slide for staining and diagnosis. This cell aspirator technique has produced specimens containing a large number of cells, which is a necessary condition for a reliable cytological diagnosis. Also in this article an account is given of the results of a comparative histopathologic study of areas of the oral mucosa in which cytological specimens had been collected with a wooden spatula and with a cell aspirator. To judge from the histopathologic picture, the wooden spatula collected superficial epithelial cells with compresion of the epithelium in the area of collection and leveling out of the cells in the direction of movement of the spatula. The cell aspirator was found to collect cells from most layers of the epithelium and in a sharply circumscribed portion of the mucosal change. No subepithelial damage was observed with the two methods of collection.