title: Utility and diagnostic accuracy of fallopian tube touch imprint cytology.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the diagnostic accuracy of cytology smears in distinguishing between tube and non-tube structures.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred cytology smears of fallopian tube and non-tube structures (vessels, round and ovarian ligaments) were prepared from surgically removed uterus and fallopian tube specimens and stained by the Papanicolaou method. The slides were reviewed blindly by pathologists and interpreted as tube or non-tube structures. The results were compared to the histological examination of the same specimens.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results indicated an overall accuracy of 97% with a specificity of 98% and sensitivity of 96% for cytology smears, taking histology as the gold standard. Positive and negative predictive values were 96.1% and 97.9%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cytology smears are a convenient and cost effective tool for laboratory confirmation of tubal sterilization. This method can reduce the costs of laboratory examination, especially in developing countries, where tubal sterilizations are done in large cohorts. However, histological slides remain the gold standard in cases of medicolegal problems.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran. shahnaz_aali@excite.com
authors.forename: B S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Aali
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Malekpour
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nakheii
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mehdizadeh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000473:pathology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003581:Cytodiagnosis / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000473:pathology*; D005185:Fallopian Tube Neoplasms / Q000191:economics / Q000473:pathology*; D005187:Fallopian Tubes / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D013246:Sterilization, Tubal / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods