Sensitivity of sputum cytology after homogenization with dithiothreitol in lung cancer detection. Two years of experience.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the sensitivity of sputum cytology using the dithiothreitol homogenization method (DTT) with that of the standard pick-and-smear (PS) method in lung cancer detection.


METHODS
In a two-year period, 2,428 sputum specimens were examined. Standard PS smears were prepared as controls; the remainder of the specimens were homogenized with DTT before smears were prepared. The sensitivity of the two methods in detecting positive cases was compared.


RESULTS
Among 260 positive cases, the DTT method detected 256, while the PS method detected only 212, representing a difference of 17%. The DTT method also detected 28 more suspicious cases and permitted definitive typing of the tumor in a further 11 cases.


CONCLUSIONS
Homogenization of sputum with DTT is not only a simple and versatile method but also a more sensitive method as compared to the PS method in lung cancer detection.
D004229:Dithiothreitol; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013183:Sputum / Q000166:cytology*
D004229:Dithiothreitol