title: The implementation of liquid-based cytology for lung and pleural-based diseases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  First introduced for the processing of cervico-vaginal samples, liquid-based cytology (LBC) soon found application in nongynecological specimens, including bronchoscopic brushings, washings and transcutaneous and transbronchial aspiration biopsy of the lung as well as pleural effusions. This article reviews the existing literature related to these specimens along with the authors' own experience.
  
  
  METHODS
  A literature review was conducted through Ovid MEDLINE and PubMed search engines using several key words.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most of the literature is based on data collected through the use of split samples. The data confirms that the use of LBC is an acceptable, and sometimes superior, alternative to the conventional preparations (CP). LBC offers several advantages, including the ability to transport in a stable collecting media, elimination of obscuring elements, ease of screening, excellent preservation, random representative sample, and application of ancillary techniques on additional preparations. Some diagnostic pitfalls related to the introduced artifacts were reported.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The utilization of LBC offers many advantages over CP and has a diagnostic accuracy that is equal to or surpasses that of CP. LBC affords a bridge to the future application of molecular and other ancillary techniques to cytology. Knowledge of the morphological artifacts is useful at the early stages of implementation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.
authors.forename: Claire W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Michael
authors.forename: Carlos C W M
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Bedrossian
mesh_terms: D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D018893:Bronchoalveolar Lavage; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000166:cytology; D003581:Cytodiagnosis / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology*; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D065006:Papanicolaou Test; D010994:Pleura / Q000473:pathology*; D010995:Pleural Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods*; D013194:Staining and Labeling