The cytological diagnosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma from exfoliated cells collected by suction method. An eight-year experience.
A specially designed metallic tube, which is connected to a suction-pump and passed through the oral cavity into the nasopharynx for collecting exfoliative cells by negative pressure suction, is recommended in the diagnosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). From the beginning of 1973 through October 1976, among 458 cases of NPC, 405 cases were cytologically positive (with a positive rate of 88.4 per cent), and 433 cases were biopsy positive (with a positive rate of 94.3 per cent). In 1977, from January to October, among 116 cases of NPC, 103 cases were cytologically positive (with a positive rate of 88.8 per cent), and 108 cases were biopsy positive (with a positive rate of 93.1 per cent). The cytopathological features of the exfoliative NPC cells were correlated with the histopathological types of NPC. The degree of lymphocytic infiltration among the cancer cells in smears was compared with that in biopsies. They coincided roughly with each other. It indicates that one might interpret the immunological lymphocytic reaction by the number and typing of lymphocytes in smears too. The authors conclude that this cytological method is fairly dependable, less traumatic to the mucosa, convenient, and easily managed. A large number of tumor cells can be collected. It can also reflect the histologic typing of cancer cells. It can be used as a routine procedure in the clinico-pathological diagnosis of NPC, as well as in a mass screening program.
D003584:Cytological Techniques; D006801:Humans; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000295:instrumentation; D013396:Suction