Endobronchial ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration and liquid-based thin-layer cytology.
BACKGROUND
Optimal management of patients with lung cancer requires accurate cell typing of tumours and staging at the time of diagnosis. Endobronchial ultrasound-guided lymph node aspiration as a method of diagnosing and staging lung cancer is a relatively new technique.


OBJECTIVE
To report the use of liquid-based-thin-layer cytology for the processing and reporting of these specimens.


METHODS
The specimens obtained from 80 patients were processed using the ThinPrep system, with the remainder of the samples being processed as a cell block.


RESULTS
40 of the 81 procedures yielded malignant cells (30 non-small cell carcinoma, 8 small-cell carcinoma and 2 combined small-cell carcinoma/non-small-cell carcinoma). The cell blocks were found to contain sufficient material to allow the immunohistochemical characterisation of tumour cells with a range of antibodies.


CONCLUSIONS
The use of liquid-based-thin-layer cytological techniques provides high-quality specimens for diagnostic purposes. When used in conjunction with cell blocks, sufficient material may be obtained to allow immunohistochemical studies to confirm the tumour cell type. Given the current move towards centralisation of pathology services, this approach gives the pathologist high-quality specimens without the need for direct onsite support at the time of the procedure.
Wallace
W A H
WA
Department of Pathology, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, University Hospitals Division, Lothian Health and Division of Pathology, College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, Edinburgh University, Edinburgh, UK. william.wallace@luht.scot.nhs.uk
Monaghan
H M
HM
Salter
D M
DM
Gibbons
M A
MA
Skwarski
K M
KM
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle / Q000379:methods; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional / Q000379:methods