Utility of Cell Block in Diagnosis of Serous Effusions in Comparison with Conventional Cytological Smears

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Diagnostic issues arise in everyday practice to reach a conclusive diagnosisafter cytological evaluation of smears. This study was designed to determine the diagnostic accuracy of cell block technique by comparing with conventional cytological smears in cytopathological diagnosis of serous effusions.Methods: This study of diagnostic accuracy comprising of one hundred clinically and radiologically proven cases of pleural and peritoneal effusions was conducted in the Department of Pathology, Rashid Latif Medical College Lahore over a period of one year (January 2018 to January 2019). Non-probability, purposive sampling technique was used. Diagnostic accuracy of conventional cytological smear and cell block was compared using histopathology as gold standard.Results: The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of conventional cytological smear and cell block method was 78.40%, 69.20, 87.90%, 52.90%, and 94.6%, 88.5%, 95.90%, 85.20% respectively. Diagnostic accuracy of cytological smears was 76% as compared to 93% of cell block method.Conclusion: To reach a conclusive diagnosis for cytological evaluation of effusion, cell block analysis is mandatory step in addition to conventional cytological methods especially in smears that remain suspicious or inconclusive on routine cytology.