Role of exfoliative cytology in diagnosis of laryngeal tumors

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the value of cytologic examination in the diagnosis of laryngeal tumors. STUDY DESIGN: A series of 100 patients with suspected tumorous lesions of the larynx were included in the study. The material for cytologic analysis was obtained by use of a modified instrument, that is, a slightly concave discoid knife, during direct microlaryngoscopy, followed by biopsy for paraffin and frozen section histopathology. The findings obtained by cytology and frozen section histopathology were compared with the findings of paraffin section histopathology. RESULTS: Cytology showed an 83.9% sensitivity, 100% specificity and 90% accuracy compared with histopathologic findings (p < 0.05; chi2 = 7.7). Frozen section pathohistology vs. paraffin section histopathology showed an 80.6% sensitivity, 97.4% specificity and 87% accuracy (p < 0.05; chi2 = 8.1). CONCLUSION: Cytologic examination showed higher accuracy compared to frozen section histopathology, also giving an insight into the type of laryngeal pathology in the case of precancerous lesions. The use of cytology and frozen section histopathology during direct microlaryngoscopy improves clinical diagnostic accuracy.