A Comparative Study of Bronchial Washing and Brushing, with Bronchial Biopsy

Lung cancer is the most common cancer around the world and is associated with significant mortality. Smoking is the most important risk factor. Screening and early diagnosis has significant role in initiating treatment and reducing mortality rates. Also, definite histological subtyping is mandatory for newer therapeutic strategies. Over the past decades, screening for lung cancer has evolved with the advent of bronchoscopy and cytological evaluation. Even though various biomarkers of lung cancer are in study, cytological evaluation of bronchial brushing and washing has become a useful and cost-effective screening method for lung cancer and is widely used all around the world.METHODSIt was a comparative cross-sectional study conducted in the Department of Pathology, Government Medical College, Thrissur, from 1-1-2017 to 30-6-2018. Bronchial washing and brushing specimens received along with biopsy, which are suspicious for bronchogenic carcinoma were included in the study. Sample size was 82. Cytological smears are stained with Giemsa staining and Papanicolaou’s staining. Biopsy specimens are stained with haematoxylin and eosin staining after processing.RESULTSMajority of patients were in the age group of 60 – 79 years (75.6%), and mean age was 64.14 years. Cigarette smoking was seen in 55 patients (67.1%). Out of the 82 cases, 46 cases (56%) were squamous cell carcinoma, 14 cases (17%) were adenocarcinoma, 15 cases (18.3%) were non-small cell carcinoma- NOS, 7 cases (8.6%) were small cell carcinoma. Positivity rates for malignancy with brushing was 52.4%, washing 19.5% and combined 54.9%. Bronchial brushing had a sensitivity of 19.6% in squamous cell carcinoma, 28.6% in adenocarcinoma, 26.7% in non-small cell carcinoma (NSCLC)-NOS, 28.6% in small cell carcinoma (SCLC). Compared to bronchial brushing, the sensitivity of bronchial washing was lower and combination of washing with brushing yielded no additive effects except in adenocarcinoma cases.CONCLUSIONSAmong routinely employed cytological techniques in our centre for a diagnosis of bronchogenic carcinoma, bronchial brushing has higher sensitivity and specificity than bronchial washing. Even though the combination of both cytological techniques yielded not much difference in sensitivity and specificity than brushing alone, usefulness of bronchial washing was evident in adenocarcinomas. Therefore, bronchial brushing, washing and biopsy should be done in the evaluation of suspicious bronchogenic carcinoma and major importance in the processing, evaluation and analysis of brushing will be useful in better cytological diagnosis.

Morphologic Analysis of Cytomegalovirus Infected Cells in Bronchial Washing Cytology: Comparison of Liquid-Based Preparation and Conventional Smear

BACKGROUND: The cytopathic effects of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection have been well described since the virus was first reported; however, the morphology of CMV infection has not been clearly studied. We examined the difference in detailed cytologic findings in bronchial washing cytology between liquid-based and conventionally prepared smears. METHODS: Bronchial washing cytology was processed using either the conventional preparation (CP) or liquid-based preparation (LBP). Sixty-nine cells with typical cytopathic effects of CMV infection were detected on CP slides and 18 cells on LBP slides. Using the image analyzer, area, circumference, major axis, and minor axis of the cytoplasm, nucleus, and intranuclear inclusion were measured in singly scattered CMV-infected cells, and histiocytes were used as a control. RESULTS: The mean cytoplasmic area of CMV-infected cells was 1.47 times larger than that of histiocytes in CP and 2.92 times larger in LBP (p<.05). The mean nuclear area of CMV-infected cells was 2.61 times larger than that of histiocytes in CP and 4.25 times larger in LBP (p<.05). The nucleus to cytoplasm ratio and intranuclear inclusion to cytoplasm ratio of the mean area, circumference, major axis, and minor axis in CP were larger than those in LBP (p<.05). CONCLUSIONS: The sizes of cytoplasm, nucleus, and intranuclear inclusion were larger in LBP than in CP, indicating that CMV-infected cells are easily detectable in LBP. However, the nucleus-to-cytoplasm ratio was larger in CP, suggesting that differentiation from malignancy or regenerative atypia requires caution in CP.

Diagnostic Yield of Bronchial Washing Fluid Analysis for Hemoptysis in Patients with Bronchiectasis

PURPOSE: Bronchiectasis is the main cause of hemoptysis. When patients with bronchiectasis develop hemoptysis, clinicians often perform bronchoscopy and bronchial washing to obtain samples for microbiological and cytological examinations. Bronchial washing fluids were analyzed from patients with bronchiectasis who developed hemoptysis, and the clinical impacts of these analyses were examined. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective observational study of patients who underwent fiberoptic bronchoscopy for hemoptysis in Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, a university affiliated tertiary referral hospital, between January 2006 and December 2010 were reviewed. Among them, patients who had bronchiectasis confirmed by computed tomography and had no definite cause of hemoptysis other than bronchiectasis were reviewed. The demographic characteristics, bronchoscopy findings, microbiological data, pathology results and clinical courses of these patients were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: A total of 130 patients were reviewed. Bacteria, non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), and Mycobacterium tuberculosis were isolated from bronchial washing fluids of 29.5%, 21.3%, and 0.8% patients, respectively. Suspected causal bacteria were isolated only from bronchial washing fluid in 19 patients, but this analysis led to antibiotics change in only one patient. Of the 27 patients in whom NTM were isolated from bronchial washing fluid, none of these patients took anti-NTM medication during the median follow-up period of 505 days. Malignant cells were not identified in none of the patients. CONCLUSION: Bronchial washing is a useful method to identify microorganisms when patients with bronchiectasis develop hemoptysis. However, these results only minimally affect clinical decisions.

Cytohistological correlation in diagnosis of lung tumors by using fiberoptic bronchoscopy: Study of 200 cases.

Background: Examination of specimens obtained through fl exible fi beroptic bronchoscope is an important and often the initial diagnostic technique performed in patients with suspected malignant lung lesion. Aims: To evaluate the correlation of cytological fi ndings of bronchial washings, bronchial brushing and imprint smear of bronchial biopsy in the diagnosis of lung tumors, with histopathology of bronchial biopsy taking the latter as the confi rmatory diagnostic test. Materials and Methods: A total of 200 patients with lung mass were included in the study. Bronchial brushings were obtained from all 200 cases. In the fi rst 100 cases, pre-biopsy bronchial washing (washing collected before the brushing and biopsy procedure) while post-biopsy washing (washing at the end of the procedure) was procured in all 200 cases. Imprint smears of bronchial biopsy were prepared in 150 cases. Results: Sensitivity and specifi city of brushing was 76.58% and 77.78% respectively and that of imprint smear was 81.35% and 78.12% respectively. Pre-biopsy and post-biopsy washing showed high specifi city of 88.89%, but low sensitivity of 30.14 and 36.77% respectively. No signifi cant difference was found in sensitivity between brushing and imprint smear (Chi-square; P = 0.4187); and between pre-biopsy and postbiopsy washing (Chi-square; P = 0.7982). However, there was a signifi cant difference between sensitivity of brushing and washing (Chi-square; P = 0.0001). The sensitivity of combination of three cytological diagnostic techniques was 87.29%. Conclusion: Bronchial brushing and washing cytology in combination with imprint cytology aids in the diagnosis of lung tumors. Therefore, all these techniques may be used concurrently along with bronchial biopsy to diagnose lung tumors.

Comparison of Conventional Smear, Cell Block and Liquid-based Preparation in the Evaluation of Bronchial Washing Specimen in Lung Cancer Patients

BACKGROUND: The preparation of conventional smears (CS) from mucoid samples, despite mucolysis, can pose difficulties for cytotechnologists or cytopathologists. In recent years, liquid-based cytology (LBC) devices have been developed in attempts to improve the cytopreparation process. LBC improves both sample collection and sample preparation. Cell block preparations (CB) can be made from residual tissue fluids, and are a useful adjunct to smears. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 3 preparations from 209 patients whose diagnosis was later confirmed via bronchoscopic biopsy, fine needle aspiration, gun biopsy or operation. Each case was categorized into one of three groups: "negative," "atypical or suspicious" and "malignant." RESULTS: When conflating the "atypical" and "malignant" categories into a "positive" category, the sensitivity of each preparation was 74.4% in LBC, 72.9% in CS, and 76.5% in CB preparations. Specificity was 98.7%, 94.7% and 98.7%, respectively. By combining LBC and CB, the sensitivity is 78.2%. CONCLUSIONS: Among three different preparation methods, sensitivity is highest in the CB method. LBC has many advantages in evaluating cell morphology and by combining CB method, the sensitivity can be improved slightly. The application of all three methods may prove helpful when one or another method proves diagnostically inconclusive.

The Clinical Implication of MAGE Gene Detection in Bronchial Washing Fluid in Routine Practice / 결핵및호흡기질환

BACKGROUND: Melanoma antigen genes (MAGE) are expressed in many human malignant cells and are silent in normal tissues other than in testis and in placenta. But MAGE expression in benign lung diseases, such as pulmonary tuberculosis or cases with severe inflammation, needs further evaluation to overcome false-positive findings. We evaluated detection rates of the melanoma antigen genes (MAGE) RT-nested PCR in bronchoscopic washing samples from patients with benign lung disease, as well as in patients with malignancies. METHODS: Bronchial washing fluid from 122 patients was used for cytological examination and MAGE gene detection using RT-nested-PCR of common A1-6 mRNA. We compared the results from the RT-nested PCR and the pathologic or bacteriologic diagnosis. We also analyzed the expression rate and false positive rate of MAGE gene. RESULTS: Among 122 subjects, lung cancer was diagnosed in 23 patients and benign lung disease was diagnosed in 99 patients. In patients with lung cancer, the positive rate of MAGE expression was 47.8% (11/23) and in benign lung disease group, the expression rate was 14.1% (14/99). Among benign lung disease group, the expression rate of MAGE gene (25.0%) in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (11/44) was especially high. CONCLUSION: MAGE A1-6 RT-nested PCR of bronchial washing fluid can be used as a complementary method in lung cancer, but that test results in a high false positive rate in tuberculosis patients.

Pseudo-outbreak of Klebsiella oxytoca fromBronchial Washing Specimens / 대한임상미생물학회지

BACKGROUND: We noticed a sudden increase in the isolation of Klebsiella oxytoca from bronchial washing specimens during May to June 2006. An epidemiological investigation was conducted to identify the cause of the outbreak and to implement appropriate infection control measures. METHODS: A total of 18 isolates of K. oxytoca were found. The 14 bronchial washing specimens that yielded K. oxytoca were taken in the outpatient bronchoscopy suite, and the other 4 specimens were obtained by a portable bronchoscopy. The medical records and microbiologic findings of these patients were reviewed. Environmental samples from two bronchoscopes and the bronchoscopy suite were cultured. The relations between the available 10 isolates from bronchial washing fluid were investigated by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). RESULTS: No patients were judged to have had true infections attributable to K. oxytoca either before or after bronchoscopy. Cultures of samples from two bronchoscopes and related environment did not grow K. oxytoca. The PFGE analysis showed that 8 of 10 isolates had a similar pattern of DNA fragments. An infection control strategy was implemented, including adequately cleaning and disinfecting the bronchoscopes, and a sharp reduction in the incidence of K. oxytoca from bronchial washing samples followed. CONCLUSION: The sudden increase of K. oxytoca from bronchial washing specimens was a pseudo-outbreak. We presumed that the bronchoscopes became contaminated during a procedure in a patient colonized with K. oxytoca in the upper-respiratory tract.

A Comparison of Conventional Cytology and ThinPrep Cytology of Bronchial Washing Fluid in the Diagnosis of Lung Cancer / 결핵및호흡기질환

Background: A ThinPrep(R) Processor was developed to overcome the limitations of conventional cytology and is widely used to diagnose various cancers. This study compared the diagnostic efficacy of conventional cytology for lung cancer with that of the ThinPrep(R) cytology using the bronchial washing fluid. Methods: The bronchial washing fluid of 790 patients from Jan. 2002 to Dec. 2006, who were suspected of gaving a lung malignancy, was evaluated. Both ThinPrep(R) and conventional cytology were performed for all specimens. Result: Four hundred forty-six men and 344 women were enrolled in this study, and 197 of them were diagnosed with cancer from either a bronchoscopic biopsy or a percutaneous needle aspiration biopsy. ThinPrep(R) cytology showed a sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and false negative error rate of 71.1%, 98.0%, 92.1%, 91.1%, 8.9%, respectively. The conventional cytology showed sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, nagative predictive value and false negative error rate of 57.9%, 98.0%, 90.5%, 87.5%, 12.5%, respectively. For central lesions, the sensitivity of conventional cytology and ThinPrep(R) were 70.1% and 82.8%, respectively. Conclusion: ThinPrep(R) cytology showed a higher sensitivity and lower false negative error rate than conventional cytology. This result was unaffected by the histological classification of lung cancer. Therefore, ThinPrep(R) cytology appears to be a useful method for increasing the detection rate of lung cancer in bronchial washing cytology test.

Diagnostic Sensitivity of Sputum and Bronchial Washing Cytology in Bronchogenic Carcinomas Confirmed by Bronchoscopic Biopsy / 대한세포병리학회지

To evaluate the role of sputum and bronchial washing for the diagnosis of lung carcinoma, we studied the sensitivity of both cytologic techniques using the biopsy confirmed cases from 228 patients. Among them, 123 cases were squamous cell carcinomas, 42 cases were adenocarcinomas, 48 cases were small cell carcinomas, one case was large cell carcinoma, and 14 cases were other types of carcinoma including poorly differentiated carcinomas. Three hundreds and ninety two sputa and 173 sputa were obtained in the pre- and post- bronchoscopic periods. Bronchial washing had been taken once in each patient. The overall sensitivity of the sputum cytology was 0.52 and that of the bronchial washing 0.63, while it increased to 0.83 when a combination of both techniques. Squamous cell carcinomas were diagnosed to the great extent in which sensitivities were 0.59 and 0.74, in sputum and bronchial washing, respectively. The post-bronchoscopic sputa showed higher sensitivity (0.44) than pre-bronchoscopic sputa (0.30). The sensitivity of sputa increased from 0.34 to 0.49 when three samples were examined compared to the single examination. The accuracy of cell typing was 94.0% in sputa and 93.8% in bronchial washing. Repeated sputum examination including post- bronchoscopic sputa is warranted to improve sensitivity and a complementary role of both cytologic techniques can be postulated by these data.

Clinical Utility of Bronchial Washing PCR for IS6110 and Amplicor for the Rapid Diagnosis of Active Pulmonary Tuberculosis in Smear Negative Patients / 결핵

BACKGROUND: There is a well recognized interlaboratory variation in the results using the polymerase chain reaction(PCR) to detect the IS6110 sequence. The clinical utility of a commercially developed PCR test(Amplicor) in bronchial washings for detecting pulmonary tuberculosis in smear negative patients was evaluated. The sensitivity and specificity of Amplicor was compared with that of an in-house PCR test used for detecting the IS6110 sequence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis(M.tbc) in the bronchial washing fluid. METHODS: 66 patients whose sputum smear for M.tbc were negative or who could not produce any sputum were recruited from January 1999 to July 1999. They all had a bronchoscopy performed to determine if there were signs of hemoptysis, patients who could not cough up sputum, lung lesion that exclude pulmonary tuberculosis. Pulmonary tuberculosis was diagnosed on the basis of a positive culture or a response to anti-tuberculosis therapy. RESULTS: 19 patients with tuberculosis were identified and samples from 16 patients were later confirmed by culture. Bronchial washing for Amplicor PCR revealed a sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of 94.7%, 97.9%, 94.7%, 97.9%, respectively. Using IS6110 based PCR, the sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values were of 73.7%, 87.2%, 70%, 89.1% respectively. CONCLUSION: Bronchial washing for Amplicor PCR proved to be more useful than IS6110 based PCR in rapidly diagnosing smear negative pulmonary pulmoary tuberculosis in patients where tuberculosis was likely to be differential and rapid diagnosis was essential for optimal treatment.

Bronchial Brushing and Bronchial Washing Cytologic Features of Primary Malignant Fibrous Histiocytoma of the Lung: A Case Report / 대한세포병리학회지

A case of primary malignant fibrous histiocytoma(MFH) of the lung occurring in a 62-year-old man is presented. After preoperative bronchial brushing and washing cytologic diagnosis of poorly differentiated carcinoma, surgical resection and lymph nodes dissection were performed. Subsequent histologic examination revealed a primary MFH. The diagnosis was confirmed by electron microscopic and immunohistochemical examinations. The review of the bronchial brushing and washing cytologic features disclosed many bipolar and a few unipolar spindle tumor cells with a "comet" configuration, mainly single cells, but also forming loose clusters. The nuclei were elongated and hyperchromatic and contained one or more irregular nucleoli. Scattered bizarre, multinucleated tumor giant cells were also present.

ADA Level In Bronchial Washing Fluid In Patients With Pulmonary Tuberculosis / 결핵

BACKGROUND: The estimation of ADA activity in pleural fluid has been proved useful tool in the diagnosis of tuberculous pleural effusions. However, there is controversy about its usefulness when estimated in bronchial washing fluid in the patients with pulmonary tuberculosis. This study aims at evaluating the usefulness of measuring ADA activity in bronchial washing fluid of tuberculous patients as biochemical marker in the early diagnosis of the disease. METHODS: We examined the difference of ADA activity in bronchial washing fluid among the group I (tuberculosis group), group II (lung cancer group) and group III (control group). RESULTS: There was significantly higher bronchial washing fluid ADA level in tuberculosis group compared to the lung cancer and control groups(p<0.01). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that bronchial washing fluid ADA activities seem to be a useful tool in the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis.

A Case of Nephrotic Syndrome in Behcet's Syndrome

Electron microscopy (EM) can provide a valuable contribution to light microscopy (LM) in the interpretation of fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) specimen, especially in the diagnosis of the tumor. However, considerable care in processing the specimen is mandatory to recover the cells and avoid altering the fine structures. We experienced a case of malignant melanoma in 33-yrs-old female, diagnosed by EM study of FNAC specimen from the axillary mass, who was initially thought as dissem- inated carcinomatosis on LM study. The technique of EM study on FNAC specimen consisted of washing the needle and syringe in 2.5% glutaraldehyde after a rapid stain (Diff-Quik), which was used to obtain a preliminary diagnostic impression and to assure the adequacy of the EM specimen. After centrifugation in the steps of fixation and dehydration, the sediment was made into an epon block and examined. The whole processing time of EM study can be shortened within 7 or 8 hours, and results can be available within 48 to 72 hours. Our experience suggests the EM study on FNAC can be a useful diagnostic method in the diagnosis of difficult FNAC cases.

Renal Toxicity of High-dose Intravenous Immunoglobulin in Children with Kawasaki Disease and Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura

We describe a case of fine needle aspiration cytology of metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma in the lymph node of the neck presenting a predominantly spindle cell pattern. A 36 year-old male patient complained of dysesthesia on the right face and a palpable neck mass. Fine needle aspiration was done on the neck mass. Tumor cells were present in syncytial groups or singly with mainly spindle shaped nuclei, vesicular chromatin, thin and regular nuclear membrane, occasional prominent nucleoli and a few foci of cellular cohesiveness. The cytoplasm was scant and pale with ill-defined borders. Mature lymphocytes were present in the background of aspirates and within the tumor cell clusters. Histologically, the tumor of nasopharynx showed several areas of spindle cell pattern. Because the tumor cells showed a predominantly spindle shape with vesicular nuclear chromatin, the differential diagnosis of spindle cell sarcoma or granuloma of epithelioid cells were considered, but the characteristic morphology of the nuclei with vesicular chromatin and prominent nucleoli, and cellular cohesiveness were important in making the diagnosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. The possibility of metastatic carcinoma should always be considered in fine needle aspiration cytology of the lymph node in the neck because the incidence of metastatic carcinoma, particularly of the nasopharyngeal carcinoma in the lymph nodes of the neck is relatively high.

Effectiveness of Transbronchial Fine Needle Aspiration in Diagnosing Lung Cancers / 대한세포병리학회지

Transbronchial fine needle aspiration(TBNA) is one of the cytologic methods in diagnosing lung cancers. TBNA can be used in cases of hilar, mediastinal or lung masses adjacent to the bronchi. We analyzed and compaired the findings of 27 cases of TBNA and bronchial washing and brushing(BW/BB) in lung cancers confirmed by either biopsy or surgical resection between Jun, 1996 and May, 1997 in Asan Medical Center. They were 18 cases of non-small cell carcinomas(eight squamous cell carcinomas, nine adenocarcinomas, and one large cell undifferentiated carcinoma), eight cases of small cell carcinomas, and one case of metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma. The sensitivity of TBNA was 37%(10/27) and false negative was 63%(17/27). Although the sensitivity of BW/BB was 56%(15/27), it was not different statistically from that of TBNA(Chi square, p=0.38). Overall sensitivity of TBNA and BW/BB in this series was 70%(19/27). Forty-seven percent of false negative TBNA(8/17) were positive in BW/BB. The findings suggest that the addition of TBNA to the standard BW/BB increases diagnostic yield in cytologic diagnosis of lung cancer.

Cytopathologic Features of Adenoid Cystic of Trachea Carcinoma: Report of 2 Cases / 대한세포병리학회지

Cytopathologic findings of two cases of adenoid cystic carcinoma of the trachea are reported. The carcinomas grew as a intratracheal mass. By bronchial washing, brushing and/ or post-bronchoscopic sputum cytology, large cohesive sheets, lobulated clusters, or three dimensional ball-like structures were obtained. They had numerous cyst-like spaces containing characteristic globular basophilic material. The tumor cells were uniform and had a small amount of cytoplasm. Nuclei were small and hyperchromatic. Nucleoli were occasionally observed. The cytological diagnosis was confirmed by bronchoscopic biopsies.

Cytopathology of Metastatic Mucoepidermoid Carcioma of the Lung / 대한세포병리학회지

A case of metastatic mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the lung, originating from the hard palate, was diagnosed by sputum and bronchial washing cytology. Although the cytologic features of mucoepidermoid carcinoma have been well described, it is easy to confuse mucoepidermoid carcinoma with the more common primary adenocarcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma of the lung. The features distinguishing mucoepidermoid carcinoma from other primary neoplasms includ 1) mucus-secreting cells individually and in clusters admixed with other cell components, 2) epidermoid cells identified by the presence of abundant spread-out cytoplasm and an oval dark nucleus and 3) intermediate cells resembiling normal ductal epithelial cells with moderate-toscanty cytoplasm, a central, round vesicular nucleus and a prominent nucleolus, The morphologic features of metastatic mucoepidermoid carcinoma in the case were similar to those of primary sallvary mucoepidermoid carcinoma.

Evaluation of cytopathologic diagnosis of lung carcinoma / 대한세포병리학회지

In order to evaluate the role of cytopathologic diagnosis of sputum, bronchial washing and bronchial brushing in the diagnosis of lung cancer, we performed this study. The patients included in this study had undergone sputum, bronchial washing and brushing cytology over the 20-month period of 1985 through 1987. The total number of specimens was 5,495 of 2,242 patients, including 4,830 sputa and 665 bronchial washing and brushings. The average number of sputa and bronchial washings and brushings per case was 2.4 and 1.2 respectively. Among them, about 10% were unsatisfactory specimen, and three-fourths were negative specimens. In sputum cytology, the diagnosis of "atypical cells" was given to 3%, "suspicious for malignancy" was given to 1 %, and "malignancy" was given to 13%. In bronchial washing and brushing cytology, the diagnosis of "atypical cells", "suspicious for malignancy" and malignancy" was given to 6%, 3%, and 20% respectively. The cases diagnosed as "atypical cells" in cytology were actually malignancy in 95% and 84.8% of sputum and bronchial washing and brushings respectively, and the "suspicious for malignancy" were actually malignancy in 100% in both methods. The detection rates of malignancy were 50.4% and 55.2% in sputum and bronchial washing and brushing respectively, and the specificity was 100% in both methods. The accuracy of cell typing was 92% in sputum and 89.7% in bronchial washing and brushing.