Cytological study of serous effusions with the aid of tumour markers.

ABSTRACT

Clinicocytological evaluation with the help of tumour markers was done in 25 cases presenting with serous effusions. The main aim was to differentiate between reactive mesothelial cells and malignant cells, type the tumour cells in effusions with the aid of tumour markers--carcino-embryonic antigen (CEA), epithelial membrane antigen (EMA), cytokeratin and vimentin. It was observed that immunocytochemistry has complemented conventional cytology in diagnosis of carcinoma specially in cases labelled as suspicious of malignancy. EMA was found to be the most reliable epithelial marker and very useful in differentiating carcinoma cells from reactive mesothelial cells.