Abstract

Background: Conventional smear is a less complicated procedure than that of cell block technique, it has lower sensitivity due of overcrowding of cells, cell loss, lack of architecture and also abundance of inflammatory cells and scarcity of representative cells contribute to appreciable difficulties in creating conclusive diagnosis on conventional smears. The aim of this study was to check the diagnostic yields of cell block technique in the cytodiagnosis of serous fluids.
Material and Methods: Present study was cross-sectional observational study, conducted in samples of ascitic fluid, pleural fluid, pericardiac fluid that were received in the cytology section, collected from patients clinically and radiologically diagnosed as having serous effusion. After reporting the conventional cytological smear the representative received samples were processed for cell block preparations.
Results: Findings of cellularity differs significantly, indicating better yield of cellularity in cell blocks as compared to conventional smear method. Distribution of findings of background obscured by blood or proteinaceous material differs significantly, indicating less degree of background obscured by blood or proteinaceous material on cell block preparation. Distribution of findings of morphology differs significantly, morphology is better appreciated with the help of cell blocks as compared to conventional smear method. Distribution of findings of architecture differs significantly, indicating better appreciation of architecture on cell blocks. Conclusion: Cell block method, concentrates cellular rich material, and it can increases cellular yield for diagnosis. Cell block increases cellular architecture pattern like acini, cells in sheets, papillae, which has helped to identify possible type or primary site of malignancy