title: Intraoperative consultation on pediatric central nervous system tumors by squash cytology.
abstract: Squash cytology (SC) is a very useful procedure during neurosurgical intraoperative consultation (IOC), and it is especially recommended for the evaluation of soft tumors or tumors that are highly cellular (just the characteristics of pediatric central nervous system [CNS] tumors). The aim of this review is to familiarize pathologists with the range of cytomorphologic appearances that can occur during IOC for pediatric CNS tumors and with the diagnostic dilemmas and pitfalls encountered in this setting. This article is based on the medical literature and the authors' experience with a large series of cases accrued over a 12-year period at 3 institutions. SC is a specially recommended procedure in IOC for pediatric CNS tumors; it reveals the fine cellular details and background features in a manner not seen in corresponding frozen sections. Indeed, a differential diagnosis between histologically look-alike processes can be achieved with more confidence if SC is employed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Gregorio Marañon University General Hospital, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: César R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Lacruz
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University Hospital, Badajoz, Spain.
authors.forename: Inmaculada
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Catalina-Fernández
authors.affiliation: Outpatient Pathology Associates, Sacramento, California.
authors.forename: Ricardo H
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1238-8535
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Bardales
authors.affiliation: Neuropathology Laboratory, Santa Maria University Hospital, Lisbon, Portugal.
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pimentel
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Santa Maria University Hospital, Lisbon, Portugal.
authors.forename: Dolores
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: López-Presa
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University Hospital, Badajoz, Spain.
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sáenz-Santamaría
mesh_terms: D016543:Central Nervous System Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002648:Child; D003581:Cytodiagnosis / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007432:Intraoperative Period; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D012017:Referral and Consultation
keywords: central nervous system; cytopathology; intraoperative; pediatric brain tumors; squash cytology