Body fluids: Comparison of liquid based cytology with conventional cytopreparatory technique

In the diagnosis of malignant tumors, cytological examinations of various body fluids are useful. For the preparation of body fluid, many methods are used till date. The use of liquid-based cytology is new upcoming in the field.

To examine the performance of liquid-based cytology on body cavity fluids as compared to conventional cytopreparatory techniques.

In the present study, 700 body fluid samples were processed by both liquid- based cytology (BD SurePath^™) and conventional cytopreparatory technique (Thick & Thin). The performance of both techniques was compared in terms of "smear quality" and "overall diagnostic test performance."

Out of 155 body fluid samples from proven malignancy patients, 32 (20.65%) were reported as Positive for malignancy, 23 (14.84%) as Suspicious of malignancy, and 100 (64.51%) as Negative for malignancy by CS (Thick and Thin). A total of 44 (28.39%) were reported as Positive for malignancy, 12 (7.74%) as Suspicious of malignancy, and 99 (63.87%) as Negative for malignancy by LBC.

Liquid-based cytology is advantageous over conventional techniques in cytomorphology of body fluids, but not better in sensitivity and specificity. Also saves cytopathologist's valuable time for screening.