title: Diagnostic value of Tzanck smear in various erosive, vesicular, and bullous skin lesions.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cutaneous cytology has long been shown to be useful in the diagnosis of several erosive, vesicular, and bullous skin lesions. The Tzanck smear although an old tool, still remains a simple, rapid, easily applied, and inexpensive test for these skin lesions.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of Tzanck smear by determining its sensitivity and specificity in various erosive, vesicular, and bullous skin lesions.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and forty-two patients with erosive, vesicular, and/or bullous skin lesions were included in the study. Four groups of disorders were identified: infections, immunologic disorders, genodermatosis, and spongiotic dermatitis. All the study cases were evaluated by Tzanck smear. Definitive diagnosis was established by standard diagnostic techniques (including when appropriate, viral serology, bacterial culture, histopathology, direct immunoflourescence).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The sensitivity and specificity of cytologic findings was respectively 86.36% and 91.30% for viral infections; for bacterial infections, it was 85.7% and 66.6%. The sensitivity and specificity of Tzanck smear was respectively 85.0% and 83.33% for pemphigus; for bullous pemhigoid it was 11.11% and 100.0%. Tzanck smear sensitivity in genodermatoses was 100%. The sensitivity and specificity of the test in spongiotic dermatitis could not be calculated due to an insufficient number of patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Tzanck smear is a quick and reliable tool for the evaluation of various erosive and vesiculobullous skin lesions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Leprosy, Government Medical College, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
authors.forename: Atiya
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yaeen
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Leprosy, Government Medical College, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
authors.forename: Qazi Masood
authors.initials: QM
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Government Medical College, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
authors.forename: Anjum
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Farhana
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
authors.forename: Parveen
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Leprosy, Government Medical College, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
authors.forename: Iffat
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hassan
keywords: Sensitivity; Tzanck smear; specificity