Fine-needle aspiration: comparison of smear, cytospin, and cell block preparations in diagnostic and cost effectiveness

We compared the results of smears to those of cytospin and cell block preparations from fine-needle aspirations to determine the cost effectiveness of each and to determine which should be routinely obtained. We reviewed 844 cases, 361 of which had both smears and cytospins, and 483 of which had both smears and cell blocks. Smears alone were diagnostic in 94% of cases (796/844 cases), cytospins alone diagnostic in 43% of cases (154/361 cases), and cell blocks alone diagnostic in 57% of cases (277/483 cases). Cytospins contributed additional information beyond that obtained from smears in 2% (7/361) and cell blocks in 12% (57/483) of cases. When smears were nondiagnostic, cytospins contributed additional information in 10% (2/21) of cases and cell blocks contributed additional information in 44% (12/27) of cases. The cost of providing a diagnosis from smear alone is $212, from cytospin alone is $352, and from cell block alone is $392. The cost for additional information established by cytospin is $7,736 and by cell block the cost is $1,906. Smears are superior to either cytospins or cell blocks in providing a diagnosis. It is not cost-effective to obtain either cytospins or cell blocks in addition to smears on all cases. However, it is cost-effective to obtain cell blocks when the immediate smear evaluation is nondiagnostic.