title: Comparison of immunocytochemical sensitivity between formalin-fixed and alcohol-fixed specimens reveals the diagnostic value of alcohol-fixed cytocentrifuged preparations in malignant effusion cytology.
abstract: The most commonly used fixative in effusion cytology is formalin. In the present study, the immunocytochemical properties of formalin-fixed and alcohol-fixed specimens were compared to evaluate the usefulness of alcohol-fixed cytocentrifuged preparations for routine cytologic diagnosis. A total of 269 effusion samples and 17 primary antibodies were used. The sensitivity of immunocytochemical studies in alcohol-fixed specimens was similar and correlated to that of formalin-fixed specimens, suggesting that alcohol-fixed cytocentrifuged preparations are useful in effusion cytology. Pretreatment with or without heat-induced antigen retrieval revealed that antigen retrieval was unnecessary for immunocytochemical studies with most primary antibodies in alcohol-fixed cytocentrifuged preparations. The present study describes the use of immunocytochemical studies with alcohol-fixed cytocentrifuged preparations for diagnosis in routine effusion cytology.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Showa University Fujigaoka Hospital, Yokohama, Japan.
authors.forename: Katsuhide
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ikeda
authors.forename: Genshu
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tate
authors.forename: Takao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Toshiyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mitsuya
mesh_terms: D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000473:pathology; D003581:Cytodiagnosis / Q000379:methods; D003584:Cytological Techniques; D000431:Ethanol; D005260:Female; D005404:Fixatives; D005557:Formaldehyde; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D010490:Pericardial Effusion / Q000473:pathology; D016066:Pleural Effusion, Malignant / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D005404:Fixatives; D005557:Formaldehyde; D000431:Ethanol