Intraoperative cytology (squash smear) in neurosurgical practice – pitfalls in diagnosis experience based on 3057 samples from a single institution |
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Authors: | D Goel C Sundaram T R Paul S G Uppin A K Prayaga M K Panigrahi A K Purohit |
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Institution: | Department of Pathology, Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India. |
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Abstract: | OBJECTIVES: The smear technique is challenging for a neuropathologist where rapid and accurate diagnosis is to be given on small biopsies. The present study, a large retrospective analysis of squash smears in neurosurgical practice, was conducted to assess the usefulness, accuracy and the diagnostic pitfalls of smear diagnosis. METHODS: The authors analysed 3057 central nervous system (CNS) lesions sent for intraoperative cytology (IC) during the years 1988-2005. The stain used was 1% alcoholic toluidine blue. The smear diagnosis was compared with the histological diagnosis to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy. RESULTS: Diagnostic accuracy irrespective of lesion and site ranged from 83.0% to 86.0% per year (mean=85%). The highest rate of correlation among common brain tumours was noted in schwannoma (96.6%) and pituitary adenoma (92.2%), followed by meningiomas (88.9%), astrocytomas (88.4%), chordomas (86.4%) and neurocytomas (86.9%). Infections as a whole contributed 380 cases. The most common infection was tuberculosis. CONCLUSION: This is the largest series reported from India to the best of our knowledge. Squash smear technique is a very reliable and rapid method of intraoperative diagnosis. Knowledge of clinical and neuroimaging details helps the experienced neuropathologist to improve the diagnostic accuracy. |
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Keywords: | squash smear intraoperative cytology toluidine blue pitfalls brain tumours central nervous system infections cytodiagnosis |
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