ABSTRACT
Background: Central nervous system (CNS) tumors are infrequent tumors comprising <2% of all malignancies. However, a rising global trend in these tumors has been observed over the years with new potential risk factors being identified for brain tumors. Objective: The aim of the present study is to highlight the histopathological spectrum of brain tumors in a single tertiary care center in our region. Materials and Methods: This retrospective histopathological analysis of brain tumors was carried out in the Postgraduate Department of Pathology, Government Medical College, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India, from January 2015 to December 2018. During this period, a total of 117 neurosurgical biopsies were retrieved from the archives of the department. The diagnoses in all the cases were made on histopathological examination of routinely processed tissue. The hematoxylin and eosin (H and E) stained sections in all cases were reviewed by the authors, and diagnosis was confirmed applying the WHO classification 2007. The relative frequency of tumors and the distribution as per age, sex, and location of the lesion were analyzed. Results: A wide range of histopathological spectrum of CNS tumors was observed and was classified according to the WHO classification system of 2007. The primary CNS tumors were graded from Grade I to Grade 1V. Overall tumors of meninges (41.02%) were the most common entity followed by the astrocytic tumors (35.04%). Conclusion: The present study helps to provide information regarding the burden of disease in our area. Despite the use of modern imaging technique that helps in provisional diagnosis of disease, histological examination is gold standard in the diagnosis of varied types of brain tumors. Further utility of immunohistochemistry aids in confirmation of the disease.
ABSTRACT
Background: Intraoperative squash smear cytology (ISSC) is a rapid and reliable diagnostic tool that provides guidance to the neurosurgeon for precise targeting of the lesion and its surgical resection. It also helps the surgeon to modify the approach at surgery at times based on the preliminary impression of the lesion on cytology. Objectives: The present study was undertaken to assess the utility of ISSC for cytomorphological diagnosis in a resource-limited setting. The accuracy of the method was assessed by correlating cytological diagnosis with histopathological diagnosis. Materials and Methods: A total of 106 cases of central nervous system (CNS) tumors were examined by squash smear technique for cytological diagnosis which were then compared with histopathological diagnosis provided on paraffin-embedded sections. Results: Cytohistological correlation was available in all the 106 cases included in the study. Of these 106 cases, 96 were concordant with the final histopathological diagnosis, while 10 were discordant. Thus, complete correlation with final histopathological diagnosis was observed in 90.56% of cases. Conclusion: Intraoperative squash smear cytology proved to be a simple, rapid, and inexpensive technique for intraoperative consultation of CNS tumors in the absence of frozen section facility.