title: Diagnostic approach of effusion cytology using computerized image analysis.
abstract: The objective of this study is to investigate whether image cytometry is a sensitive and specific method for the differential diagnosis of equivocal cells in routine cytology of effusion smears. One hundred four effusion smears were studied from routine cytologic material. Cytologically 56 (53.8%) of the smears were classified as malignant, 26 (24%) as suspicious and 22 (21.1%) as benign. Two morphometric variables (nuclear major axis length and nuclear area) of the nuclei were measured by an image analysis system. Higher values for the area were found for malignant rather than benign and suspicious cells (p < 0.0005 and p < 0.005 respectively). The same result was extracted for the nuclear major axis length values (p < 0.0005 and p < 0.0005 respectively). Values of nuclear major axis length and nuclear area didn't differ significantly between benign and suspicious cells (p = 0.071 and p = 0.066 respectively). The results show that the range of the values for suspicious cells is closer to the range of the benign cells. Cytomorphometry of the effusion smear cells may provide important information for the differentiation of atypical mesothelial cells from malignant adenocarcinoma cells.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Pathology and Clinical Therapeutics, Alexandra Hospital, Medical School, University of Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Athanassiadou
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kavantzas
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Davaris
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gonidi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Liossi
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nakopoulou
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Petrakakou
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Athanassiades
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000473:pathology*; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019044:Image Cytometry / Q000379:methods; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000473:pathology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014626:Vaginal Smears