Our study compared the diagnostic accuracy of the 10% alcohol-formalin cell-block (CB) technique against traditional smears (CS) in serous effusions over 1 year. CB outperformed CS by detecting 7 missed cases and diagnosing 177 benign, 5 suspicious and 26 malignant cases compared to CS\'s 180 benign, 9 suspicious and 19 malignant cases. Using histopathology as a gold standard, CB showed a sensitivity of 96.4%, specificity of 98.3% and diagnostic accuracy of 98.1%, significantly higher than CS\'s 79.3% sensitivity, specificity of 97.7% and 95.2% accuracy. Using a 10% alcohol-formalin method, CB also excelled in cytomorphological characterization, especially in background elements, cellularity and cellular architecture. CB offered improved diagnostic accuracy and allowed extra sections for additional tests. In resource-constrained settings, combining CS and CB enhances cytological assessment.

UNASSIGNED: In an era of minimally invasive and rapid diagnostic technologies, fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is most useful when it comes to patients with lymphadenopathies especially of the cervical region. Liquid-based cytology (LBC) is an alternative processing method which is used for both gynecological and non-gynecological samples. Because of the remarkable advantages of LBC smears in gynecological samples, nowadays, many studies have been done to assess its utility in various other lesions. Hereby, with the help of this study, we would like to evaluate the efficiency of LBC smears in comparison to conventional FNAC smears conventional smears (CS) on lymph node aspirates.
UNASSIGNED: A retrospective study was done over a 1-year period in which 253 cases of lymph node aspirates were included in the study. The slides were prepared using standard conventional and LBC techniques and compared for adequacy, cellularity, cell architecture, necrosis, background debris, presence of cells in monolayer sheets, and nuclear/cytoplasmic details.
UNASSIGNED: Of the total 253 cases, 171 (67.6%) were and 67 (26.5%) were diagnosed as non-neoplastic and malignant, respectively. Although the LBC smears were useful in the diagnosis of malignant cases, they did pose some challenges especially in the non-neoplastic lymph node aspirates due to loss of the background necrosis. In addition, the cellular yield in LBC smears was low in comparison to CS.
UNASSIGNED: LBC smears from lymph node aspirates results in better diagnostic accuracy for malignant cases due to better cellular and nuclear details. However, for non-neoplastic etiology, it should not be considered better than CS as loss of the background necrosis and inflammation may result in an incorrect diagnosis.

BACKGROUND: To compare conventional smears (CSs) and liquid-based preparations (LBPs) for diagnosing thyroid malignant or suspicious lesions.
METHODS: Studies in the PubMed, SCOPUS, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane database published up to December 2023. We reviewed 17 studies, including 15,861 samples.
RESULTS: The diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) for CS was 23.6674. The area under the summary receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was 0.879, with sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value, and positive predictive value of 0.8266, 0.8668, 0.8969, and 0.7841, respectively. The rate of inadequate specimens was 0.1280. For LBP, the DOR was 25.3587, with an AUC of 0.865. The sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value, and positive predictive value were 0.8190, 0.8833, 0.8515, and 0.8562. The rate of inadequate specimens was 0.1729. For CS plus LBP, the AUC was 0.813, with a lower DOR of 9.4557 compared to individual methods. Diagnostic accuracy did not significantly differ among CS, LBP, and CS plus LBP. Subgroup analysis was used to compare ThinPrep and SurePath. The DORs were 29.1494 and 19.7734. SurePath had a significantly higher AUC.
CONCLUSIONS: There was no significant difference in diagnostic accuracy or proportion of inadequate smears between CS and LBP. SurePath demonstrated higher diagnostic accuracy than ThinPrep. Recommendations for fine-needle aspiration cytology should consider cost, feasibility, and accuracy.

BACKGROUND: Thyroid fine-needle aspiration has traditionally been prepared using conventional smears (CS). Liquid-based preparations (LBP) have grown in popularity and yet, there is a lack of consensus about which method is superior. This review compared CS and LBP as an intervention in the management of thyroid nodules.
METHODS: Medline, EMBASE, Scopus and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched to locate relevant studies. Observational studies comparing CS and LBP of consecutive thyroid fine-needle aspirations were included. Two reviewers independently screened, extracted, and entered data. Double data extraction included the following outcomes: (1) the proportion of inadequate smears and (2) the proportion of indeterminate smears. Studies were also assessed for risk of bias and heterogeneity.
RESULTS: From 599 unique studies, title/abstract screening identified 136 studies, and full text screening identified 13 studies. The 13 studies included 24,307 fine-needle aspirations from 19,433 patients and had high clinical, methodological, and statistical heterogeneity with low risk of bias. For CS and LBP, a meta-analysis of 12 studies showed no difference in the proportion of inadequate smears (risk difference: -0.00; 95% confidence interval [CI]: -0.04-0.04); 13 studies showed no difference in the proportion of indeterminate smears (risk difference: -0.02; 95% CI: -0.05-0.01). Sensitivity analysis of studies with low risk of bias had similar results.
CONCLUSIONS: There is no difference between CS and LBP in the proportion of inadequate and indeterminate smears. Recommendations of one method over the other should be based on cost, feasibility, and accuracy, all of which require further study.

UNASSIGNED: Liquid-based cytology (LBC) is becoming an independent processing modality for cytology specimens. Decreased obscuration, single-slide examination, lesser screening time, and potential application of ancillary techniques are the various advantages it offers.
UNASSIGNED: To study and compare the cytological features of fine-needle aspirates from thyroid swellings on LBC with conventional smears (CS).
UNASSIGNED: Fine-needle aspiration was performed on 150 patients with thyroid nodule. The aspirate was first used to prepare a minimum of two CS and the remaining aspirate was used to prepare one SurePath smear. The final diagnosis was given according to the Bethesda system for reporting thyroid cytopathology (2007). Cytomorphological parameters were semi-quantitatively scored. Pearson\'s Chi-square test was used and P value was calculated. A P value <0.05 was considered significant. Cytohistological correlation was done wherever possible.
UNASSIGNED: LBC showed higher nondiagnostic rate than CS. Significant cytomorphological differences on LBC included: (i) higher frequency of single, naked nuclei; (ii) lesser nuclear and cytoplasmic details; (iii) decreased colloid which appeared differently (as napkin fold and dense droplet); (iv) increased cyst macrophages; and (v) decreased obscuration by blood.
UNASSIGNED: LBC can supplement CS but cannot replace it.

Objective: To explore the feasibility of conventional smears and liquid-based cytologic slides of lymphatic metastasis specimens of lung adenocarcinoma acquired by fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) to detect the expression of anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK/D5F3) by immunocytochemistry (ICC) analysis. Methods: The lymphatic metastasis specimens of 147 lung adenocarcinoma, including 100 liquid-based cytologic slides and 47 conventional smears, were collected in this study. ALK fusion protein was detected by Roche Ventana ICC technology, which was compared with the ALK fusion gene assessed by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) or reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results: The positive rate of ALK (D5F3) fusion protein in advanced lung adenocarcinoma acquired by FNAC was 11.6% (17/147), and 10.6% (5/47) and 12.0% (12/100) were reached in conventional smears and liquid-based cytologic slides, respectively.Among 147 cases, 57 cases including 17 positive cases and 40 negative cases were verified by RT-PCR and FISH. The whole coincidence rate reached 96.5% (55/57). The sensitivity and specificity of ALK (D5F3) fusion protein detected in lung adenocarcinoma acquired by FNAC were 94.1% (16/17) and 97.5% (39/40), respectively. The sensitivity and specificity were both 100% (5/5 of sensitivity and 10/10 of specificity) in conventional smears, while 91.7% (11/12) and 96.7% (29/30) in liquid-based cytologic slides. Conclusion: Conventional smears and liquid-based cytologic slides of FNAC samples can be used to perform ICC analysis of ALK (D5F3) expression in advanced lung adenocarcinoma, especially for patients who have no opportunity for surgery or whose resected samples are difficult to form cell block.
目的： 探讨细针吸取细胞学传统涂片和液基薄片标本应用免疫细胞化学(ICC)检测肺腺癌淋巴结转移灶间变性淋巴瘤激酶(ALK，D5F3)蛋白表达的可行性。 方法： 收集147例进展期肺腺癌淋巴结转移灶的细针吸取细胞学标本，其中传统涂片47例，液基薄片100例，采用ICC法检测ALK蛋白的表达，并与逆转录聚合酶链反应(RT－PCR)、荧光原位杂交(FISH)检测结果进行比较。 结果： ALK蛋白在肺腺癌淋巴结转移灶细针吸取细胞学标本中的阳性率为11.6%(17/147)，其中在传统涂片和液基薄片中的阳性率分别为10.6%(5/47)和12.0%(12/100)。147例标本中，有57例标本采用RT－PCR或FISH方法进行验证，其中阳性17例，阴性40例，总符合率为96.5%(55/57)。肺腺癌淋巴结转移灶细针吸取细胞学标本检测ALK蛋白的灵敏度为94.1%(16/17)，特异度为97.5%(39/40)；其中传统涂片检测ALK蛋白的灵敏度为100%(5/5)，特异度为100%(10/10)；液基薄片检测ALK蛋白的灵敏度和特异度分别为91.7%(11/12)和96.7%(29/30)。 结论： 肺腺癌患者无法获取手术标本或标本无法制成细胞块时，细针吸取细胞学传统涂片和液基薄片可以用来进行ALK蛋白的检测。.

BACKGROUND: Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) of superficial or deep-seated lesion is an increasingly common practice, eliminating time consuming and costly diagnostic procedures and providing rapid and safe diagnosis.
OBJECTIVE: To assess utility of cell block preparation method in increasing sensitivity of cytodiagnosis in deep-seated image-guided FNACs.
METHODS: This was a hospital-based observational study conducted in the Department of Pathology, over a period of one and a half years.
METHODS: A total of 46 cases of abdomino-pelvic and intrathoracic masses subjected to guided FNACs were included. Along with conventional smears, cell blocks were prepared by using AAF (95% Ethanol 34 ml + formalin 4 ml + Glacial acetic acid 2 ml) as fixative agent.
METHODS: Done using MedCalc Version 12.7.5.0 to find out the sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic accuracy of conventional smears and cell blocks.
RESULTS: The sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic accuracy of cell blocks in our study was 71.11%, 100%, and 71.73%, respectively. The figures for FNA smears were 62.22%, 100%, and 63.04%, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS: Cell block technique by AAF fixative is a simple, inexpensive procedure. Cell block method allows the recovery and processing of minute amounts of cellular material, facilitating better classification of tumor when reviewed along with cytological smears, the ability to obtain many sections for immunostains and other studies to be performed akin to paraffin sections produced in histopathology.

BACKGROUND: Palpable thyroid nodules are present in 4-7% of general population and Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA) is now accepted by endocrinologists and thyroid surgeons as a safe, simple and cost effective procedure for evaluating a thyroid nodule. The obtained sample can be spread directly on slides, processed as cell block preparations or prepared as liquid base smears. Liquid base method has been recently accepted due to its shorter preparation time and better preservation of nuclear details. The aim of this study is to compare the diagnostic results of two commonly used methods: Liquid Base Preparation and Cell Block Preparation in evaluation of thyroid nodules.
METHODS: The samples were taken from 100 patients with a solitary nodule or a prominent nodule on a multinodular goiter background (excluding hot nodules). The obtained samples were used to prepare conventional smears (CS), Cell Block Preparations (CBP) and Liquid Base Preparations (LBP). The slides were studied by two pathologists, considering the following parameters: Cellularity, Colloid, Lymphocytes/Plasma cells and Macrophages.
RESULTS: 87% of cases revealed informative results in LBP method while in the same group of patients only 69% of samples were informative after processing by CBP method. Sensitivity and specificity of both methods compared with the conventional smears and with each other and it is concluded that LBP is a reliable method for evaluating of a thyroid nodule. Other studies also show the same results.
CONCLUSIONS: The liquid base method should be trusted due to its easier procedure, cleaner slide background, its higher specificity and higher diagnostic yields. It can be used instead of CBP and in association with CS to increase the accuracy of evaluation of thyroid nodules.