High fluorescence cell count in pleural fluids for malignant effusion screening.

Area of Science:

• Hematology
• Oncology
• Pulmonology

Background:

• Malignant pleural effusion (MPE) is a common complication of metastatic cancer, affecting 15-35% of pleural effusion cases.
• The median survival for MPE patients is poor (4-6 months), highlighting the need for accurate and timely diagnosis.
• Current diagnostic methods can be invasive and time-consuming.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of the Sysmex XN-350® automated hematological analyzer for screening MPE.
• To identify optimal parameters using high fluorescence cells (HFC) for MPE detection.
• To assess the utility of automated pleural fluid analysis in MPE diagnosis.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the Sysmex XN-350® analyzer for automated analysis of pleural fluid.
• Measured white blood cell counts, differentiation, and high fluorescence cells (HFC).
• Identified specific HFC combinations (HF-BF# ≥ 17/μL and HF-BF# > 10/μL) for MPE screening, excluding cases with heart failure or respiratory infection.

Main Results:

• The Sysmex XN-350® analyzer demonstrated effectiveness in screening for MPE.
• Specific HFC thresholds (HF-BF# ≥ 17/μL and HF-BF# > 10/μL) showed promise for MPE detection.
• Automated analysis provides a rapid and potentially less invasive method for MPE screening.

Conclusions:

• Automated analysis of pleural fluid with the Sysmex XN-350® is an effective tool for MPE screening.
• HFC analysis offers a valuable approach for identifying neoplastic cells in pleural effusions.
• This technology has the potential to improve the diagnostic workflow for MPE.