"Agar Cell-Suspension": A Novel Technique for Processing Clear Specimens.

CONTEXT: Clear cytology specimens are processed by cytocentrifugation which is preferred over membrane filters (MF). Although both techniques are expensive, cytocentrifugation is less tedious and may cause cellular distortion. AIM: To standardize "Agar cell-suspension" (ACS) an innovative, simple, cost-effective technique to process clear specimens. METHODS AND MATERIALS: About 93 clear specimens (65 urine, 15 effusion, 12 CSF, and 1 bronchial lavage) were processed by both cytocentrifugation and ACS. The sample was centrifuged in two tubes; one was used for ACS and other for cytocentrifugation. ACS smears were prepared by mixing one drop of 0.5% agar solution with the last drop of the centrifugate. Smears were fixed in methanol and stained by Papanicolaou staining method. ACS smears were compared with cytocentrifuged smears (CS) and evaluated for cellularity, cytomorphology preservation, staining quality, time, and cost. RESULTS: As compared to CS smears, ACS smears showed better cellularity in 16.1%, comparable in 53.7%, and less in 30.1%. All ACS smears (100%) showed well-preserved cytomorphology as compared to 96.7% CS. Staining quality was optimal in 96.7% ACS smears against 91.3% CS. Both techniques took equal time. The additional cost of ACS was only 0.03 INR compared to 12.50 INR for CS. CONCLUSIONS: ACS is an innovative, simple, easy, and cost-effective technique for processing clear specimens. It gives equally good results comparable to cytocentrifugation in terms of cellularity and staining quality. ACS does not cause cell distortion or air-drying as seen in some CS. Thus, ACS is a superior alternative to cytocentrifugation.

Accuracy of concurrent visual and cytology screening in detecting cervical cancer precursors in rural India.

The high burden of cervical cancer and inadequate/suboptimal cytology screening in developing countries led to the evaluation of visual screening tests, like visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA) and Lugol's iodine (VILI). We describe the performance of VIA, VILI and cytology, carried out in a multinational project called "Screening Technologies to Advance Rapid Testing" in 5,519 women aged 30-49 years, in detecting cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). VIA, VILI and cytology were positive in 16.9%, 15.6% and 6.1% women, respectively. We found 57 cases of CIN2, 55 of CIN3 and 12 of cervical cancer; 90% of CIN3 and 43% CIN2 cases were positive for p16 overexpression and high-risk HPV infection, indicating a high validity of histological diagnosis. The sensitivity of VIA, VILI and cytology to detect high-grade CIN were 64.5%, 64.5% and 67.7%, respectively; specificities were 84.2%, 85.5% and 95.4%. A high proportion of p16 positive CIN 3 (93.8%) and 2 (76.9%) were positive on cytology compared with visual tests (68.8% and 53.8%, respectively) indicating a higher sensitivity of cytology to detect p16 positive high-grade CIN. However, the immediate availability of the results from the visual tests permits diagnosis and/or treatment to be performed in the same sitting, which can potentially reduce loss to follow-up when women must be recalled following positive cytology. Organizing visual screening services in low-resource countries may facilitate the gradual building of an infrastructure committed to screening allowing the eventual introduction of more sensitive, highly objective, reproducible and affordable human papillomavirus screening tests in future.

Pulmonary non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) of diffuse large B-cell type with simultaneous humeral involvement in a young lady: an uncommon presentation with cytologic implications.

A bronchogenic carcinoma, almost invariably, presents as a lung mass. Primary pulmonary lymphomas are rare. We report an unusual case of a pulmonary non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) with simultaneous involvement of the right humerus in a 37 year old lady. Bronchial lavage smears showed atypical cells with irregular nuclear membranes raising a suspicion of a hematolymphoid tumor, over a small cell carcinoma that was the closest differential diagnosis. Biopsy from the lung mass and from the lesion in the humerus showed an identical malignant round cell tumor with prominent apoptosis. On immunohistochemistry (IHC), tumor cells were diffusely positive for leukocyte common antigen (LCA), CD20 and MIB1 (70%), while negative for cytokeratin (CK), epithelial membrane antigen (EMA) synaptophysin, chromogranin, neuron specific enolase (NSE), CD3, and CD10. Diagnosis of a pulmonary NHL of diffuse large B-cell type with involvement of the humerus was formed. The case is presented to create an index of suspicion for the possibility of a NHL on respiratory samples, while dealing with small round cells with irregular nuclear membranes. IHC is necessary to confirm he diagnosis. A simultaneous association in the humerus in our case makes it unusual.