Abstract
Background: Differentiation between benign and malignant serous effusions always poses a great diagnostic dilemma. Differentiation often requires clinical findings, morphological evaluation and sometimes immunocytochemistry. Diagnostic possibility is enhanced if cell blocks are made along with the conventional cytology smears. This will help the clinicians in both treating the patient and determining the outcome of the disease process. Materials and methods: This hospital-based cross sectional analytical study was carried out in Department of Pathology in National Academy of Medical Sciences, Bir Hospital for one year. The objective of this study was to compare the smears cytology with cell blocks sections in serous effusions. Results: The four criteria scored for each technique were volume of background blood, amount of diagnostic cellular material, degree of cellular degeneration and trauma and architectural preservation. Background blood, amount of diagnostic material present and retention of architecture was more in cell block sections compared with smears cytology; whereas cellular degeneration and trauma was less appreciated in cell block sections which scored more than the smears cytology. Conclusion: Cell block preparation is simple, rapid and inexpensive technique for serous fluids in which malignant cells can be reliably detected thus avoiding unnecessary invasive procedure in patient management. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jpn.v3i6.8998 Journal of Pathology of Nepal (2013) Vol. 3, 482-486
Highlights
Diagnostic cytology is the science of interpretation of cells that are exfoliated from the epithelial surfaces or removed from various tissues
All the relevant clinical and radiological data were obtained. 40 ml of serous effusions fluid were collected in a clean container that had 4 ml of 3.8% sodium citrate as an anticoagulant. 2-3 drops 1% glacial acetic acid was added to the fluid which ensured lysis of red blood cells
20 ml of serous fluids was centrifuged at 1500 rpm for 15 minutes and smears were made from the cell button on labeled glass slides
Summary
Diagnostic cytology is the science of interpretation of cells that are exfoliated from the epithelial surfaces or removed from various tissues. The advantages are it is non-invasive, simple and helps in faster reporting and is relatively inexpensive. This study was carried out to analyze cytological features in smears and cell block (CB) preparations in different benign and malignant lesions causing effusions. Diagnostic possibility is enhanced if cell blocks are made along with the conventional cytology smears. This will help the clinicians in both treating the patient and determining the outcome of the disease process
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