Imprint cytology of the gallbladder mucosa. Its use in diagnosing macroscopically inapparent carcinoma

• Published in: Acta cytologica Vol. 39; no. 1; p. 19
• Main Authors: Vallilengua, C, Rodríguez Otero, J C, Proske, S A, Celoria, G C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland 01.01.1995
• Subjects: Acute Disease; Aged; Carcinoma in Situ - complications; Carcinoma in Situ - diagnosis; Carcinoma in Situ - pathology; Cholecystectomy; Cholecystitis - complications; Cholecystitis - surgery; Cholelithiasis - complications; Cholelithiasis - surgery; Cholestasis, Extrahepatic - complications; Cholestasis, Extrahepatic - surgery; Female; Gallbladder - pathology; Gallbladder Neoplasms - complications; Gallbladder Neoplasms - diagnosis; Gallbladder Neoplasms - pathology; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Mucous Membrane - pathology; Predictive Value of Tests; Reproducibility of Results; Sensitivity and Specificity
• ISSN: 0001-5547

The diagnosis of early gallbladder carcinoma is almost impossible before surgery; in many cases the tumors are grossly inapparent. The usefulness of imprint cytology in detecting early carcinoma of the gallbladder mucosa was assessed. Eight macroscopically inapparent carcinomas were diagnosed, and nine grossly evident carcinomas were confirmed by imprint cytology in 120 cholecystectomies. The sensitivity of cytologic diagnosis of macroscopically inapparent carcinoma was 80%, specificity and predictive value were 100%, and efficiency was 97.7%. If overt carcinomas are included, both the sensitivity and efficiency increase, to 89.6% and 98%, respectively. For the diagnosis of dysplasia the sensitivity and predictive value was 84%, specificity 97.6% and efficiency 95.8%. Because of the simplicity and rapidity of imprint cytology of gallbladder mucosa, coupled with its high sensitivity and reliability, it is recommended for the detection of inapparent carcinoma during cholecystectomy in patients at high risk of cancer.