Evaluation of the Squash Smear Technique in the Rapid Diagnosis of Central Nervous System Tumors: A Cytomorphological Study

Abstract

Objectives: To compare the squash smear technique with the histopathological examination in the diagnosis of Central Nervous System (CNS) gliomas and to assess the utility of the squash smear technique for the rapid diagnosis in the neurosurgical biopsies for real time intraoperative consultation. Methodology: This was a prospective study conducted in the Department of Neuropathology of Sir J.J. hospital for a period of 6 months. Fifty cases of radiologically suspected CNS gliomas were sent for intraoperative smear cytology and subjected to both histopathological examination and squash smear cytology. The two techniques were then compared for their ability to diagnose as well as grade the tumor. Appropriate statistical analysis methods were then applied to the findings. Results: Smear cytology and histopathology diagnoses were compared. The following values were obtained: accuracy of 88%, sensitivity of 91.6%, specificity and positive predictive value of 100%. Conclusion: Intraoperative cytological diagnosis is fairly accurate, safe, simple, reliable and cost effective tool for rapid diagnosis of CNS gliomas and is of great value in intraoperative consultation of CNS tumors.