title: Evaluation of the ThinPrep processor for fine needle aspiration specimens.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To test the ThinPrep Processor for fine needle aspiration.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred unfixed, surgically removed specimens were aspirated. One pass was directly smeared, fixed and stained with the Papanicolaou technique. The other pass was rinsed in a proprietary fixative, and a single ThinPrep slide was made. Smears were diagnosed without knowledge of the histologic diagnosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cellularity and architectural integrity of cell groups were superior on the conventional slides. Preservation and detail of both epithelial and stromal cells were superior with the ThinPrep Processor. Preservation of background material, such as mucus and colloid, was slightly superior on the ThinPrep slides. Diagnostic sensitivity and specificity for malignancy and unsatisfactory rates were all slightly better on the ThinPrep slides.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The ThinPrep Processor offers an alternative to direct smears in situations in which expertise in slide preparation is not available.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cytopathology, Medical Center Hospital of Vermont, Burlington, USA.
authors.forename: K R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Papillo
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: St John
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Eyerer
mesh_terms: D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000379:methods*; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity