title: [Evaluation of a cell block method in cytological diagnostics].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cell block procedures have now become an established part of cytological diagnostics. In this study a cytoblock technique based on the plasma-thrombin method was evaluated.
  
  
  METHODS
  In total 389 consecutive cytological samples were initially analyzed by the classical procedure and then by the cell block technique. The latter was done by centrifugation of the remaining material of the cytological sample, resuspension of the cells in blood plasma followed by generation of a cell clot by the addition of thrombin.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Analysis of material from the peritoneal cavity, ascites and pleura was successful in more than 90% of cases. In 272 samples the conventional and cell block analyses revealed concordant results according to Papanicolaou classification. In 23 cases the cell block analysis induced an upgrade. In particular, malignant processes (PAP V) or precursor lesions (PAP IV) were identified in 9 cases which were not diagnosed by conventional analysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Advantages of this method include the assessment of an additional sample volume and thus reduction of sampling error, the possibility for unlimited storage and molecular testing similar to histological samples.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Pathologie, Universitätsklinikum Jena, Ziegelmühlenweg 1, 07743 Jena, Deutschland.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Weihmann
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Weichert
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Petersen
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gajda
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001826:Body Fluids / Q000166:cytology*; D002498:Centrifugation / Q000379:methods; D003584:Cytological Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D065006:Papanicolaou Test; D016612:Paraffin Embedding / Q000379:methods*; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000473:pathology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D013917:Thrombin; D016707:Tissue Fixation / Q000379:methods*; D014626:Vaginal Smears / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D013917:Thrombin