[Reliability of the interpretation of lymph node cytology by investigators with little cytologic experience--a study with students of veterinary medicine].

The aim of this study was to calculate the reliability of the examination of lymph node cytologies by individuals with little experience in the field of cytology. After an introduction comparable to the content of a cytology seminar, 11 students of veterinary medicine were asked to assess 20 slides with different lymphadenopathies (hyperplasia: n = 4, lymphadenitis: n = 4, malignant lymphoma: n = 4, different other neoplasias: n = 8). A correct classification according to these categories was achieved on the average (median value) in 18 of the 20 cases (minimum: 16, maximum: 20). The majority of the investigators also found a correct further differentiation for some slides, particularly with respect to the type of non-lymphatic neoplasia. The results of this study emphasize that the experience gained in a single cytology seminar enables only few individuals to reliably differentiate lymphadenopathies. The error rate, which was 10 to 20% for the majority of the investigators, however, has to be assessed critically due to the clinical consequences of misdiagnosis. This emphasizes the necessity of experience even for interpretation of lymph node cytology.