Liquid-based vs. conventional smears in fine needle aspiration of bone and soft tissue tumors

• Published in: Acta cytologica Vol. 47; no. 2; p. 197
• Main Authors: Das, Kasturi, Hameed, Meera, Heller, Debra, Mirani, Neena, Doty, Nancy, Benevenia, Joseph, Patterson, Francis, Aisner, Seena
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland 01.03.2003
• Subjects: Biopsy, Needle - instrumentation; Biopsy, Needle - methods; Bone Neoplasms - pathology; Cytological Techniques - instrumentation; Cytological Techniques - methods; Humans; Immunohistochemistry - methods; Microtomy - methods; Predictive Value of Tests; Reproducibility of Results; Soft Tissue Neoplasms - pathology; Tissue Fixation - methods
• ISSN: 0001-5547
• DOI: 10.1159/000326504

To compare the accuracy of fine needle aspiration cytology of bone and soft tissue tumors utilizing ThinPrep (TP) (Cytyc Corporation, Boxborough, Massachusetts, U.S.A.) vs. conventional smears (CS). Fine needle aspiration cytology from bone and soft tissue tumors was processed and assessed for cellularity, nuclear and cytoplasmic preservation, cellular architecture and stromal background with both the TP liquid-based smear technique and conventional methods. An accurate diagnosis was made in 13% of TP cases as compared to 64% in CS cases. CS of fine needle aspiration sample is far superior to TP in diagnosing tumors of bone and soft tissues. Preservation of cytoplasmic features and cellular architecture was superior in conventionally prepared smears.