Utility of Intra-operative Cytological Diagnosis in Cases of Ovarian Tumours

Abstract

Introduction: Intraoperative cytology of ovarian tumors is an easy, inexpensive and reliable method of investigation. Its accuracy is comparable with histological diagnosis. Aim: To assess the overall accuracy of intraoperative cytological diagnosis of ovarian tumours, to compare with histological findings and to review the cases that showed disparity in intraoperative diagnosis with final histological diagnosis. Materials and Methods: A total number of 78 cases of ovarian tumors were studied. The imprint smears were obtained intraoperatively. The ovarian tissues were subjected for histological examination. Results: Out of 78 cases, 71 cases were neoplastic (31 cases were malignant, 3 cases are borderline tumors and 37 cases were benign in nature). The sensitivity and specificity were 94.87% and 100% respectively. Conclusion: Imprint cytology is an alternative method to frozen section in the diagnosis of ovarian tumors particularly in a developing country like ours. This procedure has the similar advantages as frozen section by providing a rapid preliminary diagnosis which may guide the surgeons for their next step of management.

Keywords

• cytology
• frozen section
• germ cell origin
• neoplasm