Comparative Study Of Conventional Smears, Cytospin Smears And Cell Block On Body Fluid Cytology.

Abstract

BACKGROUND Cytological study of body fluid is a complete diagnostic modality.The accurate identification of cells as either malignant or reactive mesothelial cells is a diagnostic problem in conventional cytological smears.Distinguishing benign from malignant cellular changes requires meticulous screening and understanding of the range of reactive changes. Routine centrifuge is not satisfactory in reporting fluids with scant cellularity. Hence for fluids with scant cellularity, cytocentrifuge and cell block are useful methods. Also the morphology of the cells is well appreciated by cytocentrifuge and cell block as compared to routine centrifuge. OBJECTIVE To compare conventional smear, cytospin smear and cell block technique in analyzing cytology of body fluids. MATERIALS AND METHODS A prospective hospital based study will be carried out on patients fulfilling the inclusion criteria, referred to the Department of Pathology in BLDEU’S ShriB.M.Patil Medical College, Hospital and Research centre, Vijayapur. Study period:1st December 2014 to 30th June 2016RESULTS Inthisstudyminimal amount of background blood and proteinaceous material in 65% of cytospin smears 5% of conventional smears and 46.2% of cell blocks. Abundant cellularity was seen in 47.5% of cytospin smears 23.8% of conventional smears and 5% of cell blocks. Minimal cell degeneration was noted in 82.5% of cytospin smears 53.8% of conventional smears and 45% of cell blocks. Even distribution of cells was seen in 76.2% of cytospin smears 8.8% of conventional smears and 17.5% of cell blocks. CONCLUSION Cytospin smears showed clear background, high cellularity, better nuclear features and even distribution of cells.Hence cytospin smears are better when compared to centrifuge and cell block in analysing body fluids.