Efficacy of a modified Ultra Fast Papanicolaou (UFP) stain for breast aspirates.

The chief limitation of Ultra Fast Papanicolaou (UFP) stain, suggested by Yang and Alvarez (1995), is that, Richard Allan Haematoxylin (RA-H) and Richard Allan Cytostain (RA-C), used in the staining procedure are not universally available. It has not been established so far, whether, changes in the reagents and their proportions depending on the local availability, influence the performance of the stain. The objective of this study was to assess the feasibility and applicability of a modified UFP stain to suit our local laboratory supplies of chemical dyes, as applied to the permanent smears prepared from Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA) of breast lumps. In the present study, smears from FNA from 100 breast lumps were stained by the modified UFP stain. The modification consisted of following two changes: use of Gill's Haematoxylin instead of RAH and omission of Orange G from cytostain. Eighty Six breast aspirates were adequate for interpretation. Smears showed transparent cells with crisp nuclear features, equal to and even better than the conventional Papanicolaou stain, in a blood free background. There was an increase in total staining time by 40 seconds. We recommend the use of this modified UFP stain, only if similar reagents are being used in other laboratories. Otherwise situation specific modifications may be needed. If the UFP stain is to be used for tissues where the chances of cytoplasmic keratinization are negligible, then the use of Orange G component of the stain may become redundant.

Evaluation of fine needle capillary sampling in superficial and deep-seated lesions. An analysis of 670 cases.

OBJECTIVE: To study the efficacy and merits of a simplified cytologic technique of fine needle capillary (FNC) sampling in 670 cases. STUDY DESIGN: FNC sampling was tested on a consecutive series of 600 superficial palpable masses and 70 deep-seated lesions during the period January 1993-September 1993. Among superficial masses, sampling was done on 380 lymph nodes, 88 breast lesions, 56 thyroids, 12 salivary glands and 64 miscellaneous sites. Fifty-five lung lesions were sampled using 8 computed tomography, while 15 abdominal masses were sampled using ultrasonography. Cell samples were assessed as diagnostically adequate or inadequate. RESULTS: The diagnostic adequacy in lymph node, breast and thyroid lesions was 95%, 91.07% and 90.09%, respectively. The diagnostic adequacy for deep-seated lesions was 91.42%. CONCLUSION: The procedure gives a better perception of tumor consistency and control of the hand. FNC resulted in a high yield of good-quality material with retention of cellular architecture. It is recommended that the operator become familiar with the macroscopic slide appearance of a cellular smear. Doubts persist with respect to fibrotic and cystic lesions.

Florid melanocytic colonization in a metastasis of breast carcinoma. A case report.

BACKGROUND: Melanocytic colonization in breast carcinoma with skin invasion is an unusual entity. Very rarely does florid colonization by melanocytes simulate melanoma. This phenomenon requires recognition. The cytomorphology of this lesion is reported below for the first time. CASE: A 45-year-female operated on for breast carcinoma developed a recurrent nodule on the mastectomy scar and another circumscribed, depigmented nodule on the back. Fine needle aspiration cytology smears from the recurrent nodule showed features of lobular carcinoma of the breast, whereas the nodule on the back showed cytomorphologic features simulating melanoma along with cells simulating lobular carcinoma of the breast. CONCLUSION: We report for the first time the cytologic finding of melanocytic colonization in subcutaneous secondary breast carcinoma.

Amyloid goiter--a case report.

A rare case of Amyloid Goiter in association with leprosy is reported.

Role of scrape cytology in rapid intraoperative diagnosis. Value and limitations.

The diagnostic applications of frozen sections and imprint cytology are well known. A study was conducted to evaluate the role of scrape cytology, which is a modification of imprint cytology, in the rapid intraoperative diagnosis of tumors. For 249 surgical specimens studied by scrape cytology, the diagnostic accuracy was 98.4% and the false-positive rate was 0.4%. The method is rapid, easy, reliable and does not require special instruments or set ups. The diagnostic accuracy was better than reported for imprint cytology or frozen sections alone. Scrape cytology is advocated as a routine intraoperative procedure, especially where frozen section facilities are not available. While not meant as an alternative to frozen sections, scrape cytology can be an excellent adjunct to that technique.

A study of fetal pathology in saline induced abortion.

PIP: In order to study the fetal changes in saline induced abortion, a prospective study was made of 40 midtrimester therapeutic abortions performed at the Government Medical College and Hospital, Nagpur, India. The patients were between the ages of 14 and 40 years, and their parity ranged from 0-8. The gestation varied from 14-20 weeks. The most significant gross finding was the presence of dehydration and cutaneous and subcutaneous hemorrhages, and the most characteristic histological findings was generalized vascular congestion and dilatation in all organs. The most significant changes were in the lungs and the kidneys. The renal tubules showed diffuse shrinkage, the tubular epithelium revealing separation of the cell walls from the tubular basement membrane. The changes are believed to be consistent with those seen in hypernatremic dehydration. In sum, the study supports the view of Galen et al. (1974) that the pathological changes in fetuses in saline induced abortions can be attributed to acute salt toxicity.^ieng