[Flow cytometry in exfoliative cytology of malignant tumor]

Exfoliative cells from 170 cases of malignant tumor and 70 cases of normal tissue were studied by flow cytometry. The results showed that 155/170 (91.2%) cases were positive and 15/170 (8.8%) were false-negative; 4/70 (6.0%) cases were false-positive. The authors consider that flow cytometry has achieved a diagnostic accuracy comparable to the conventional cytology. Flow cytometry is a useful supplementary method in the diagnosis of tumors.