Diagnostic impression cytology: a simple technique for the diagnosis of external eye disease.

The technique of impression cytology was used for cytologic examination of conjunctival samples from 128 patients with a variety of external eye diseases. The method of sample collection and the staining procedure are described. Microscopic examination showed 62 cases with allergic conjunctivitis, 23 with bacterial or viral infection, 26 cases with changes typical of dry eye and 17 cases with non-specific chronic inflammation. The cytologic features and numerous applications of impression cytology are discussed.

Assessment of liver iron overload by T2-quantitative magnetic resonance imaging: correlation of T2-QMRI measurements with serum ferritin concentration and histologic grading of siderosis.

PURPOSE: To correlate hepatic 1/T2 values obtained by means of a T2-Quantitative MRI (T2-QMRI) technique with three widely applied methods for the evaluation of hemosiderosis, i.e., (a) liver iron concentrations (LFeC) (b) serum ferritin (SF), and (c) histologic grading of siderosis. The impact of coexisting hepatitis was also considered. T2-QMRI measurements were compared with signal intensity (SI) ratio measurements on conventional SE images. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Liver T2 relaxation times were calculated in 40 thalassemic patients, on a 0.5 T magnetic resonance imaging system using a multiple spin-echo sequence with parameters: TR = 2500 ms, TE = 12 ms in 20 symmetrically repeatable echoes. RESULTS: (a) 1/T2 values were well correlated (r = 0.97) with liver iron concentrations, which ranged from 2.32 to 18.0 mg/g dry weight (normal < 1.6 mg/g). (b) 1/T2 values were also correlated with serum ferritin levels (r = 0.84). At various 1/T2 values, serum ferritin levels were higher for the anti-HCV(+) patients than the anti-HCV(-) ones. (c) T2 values corresponding to successive grades of siderosis presented statistically significant differences. (d) SI ratio measurement assigned less statistically significant results, as compared to T2 values. CONCLUSION: T2-QMRI measurement of T2 relaxation time is more accurate than SI ratios in evaluating liver iron overload. It is particularly useful for hemosiderotic patients with coexisting hepatitis since, in this case, serum ferritin is not considered a reliable index of hemosiderosis.