Liquid-based thin-layer cytology can be routinely used in samples obtained via fiberoptic bronchoscope.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate liquid-based preparations (LBP) as a replacement for conventional smears (CS) of bronchial brushing (BB) and transbronchial fine-needle aspiration (TBNA) samples obtained via fiberoptic bronchoscope.

STUDY DESIGN

Bronchial brushing and TBNA samples were obtained from 62 and 33 patients by fiberoptic bronchoscopy, respectively. Liquid-based preparations were prepared from needle rinse after initial CS preparation. We compared cellularity, cell morphology, and background between the LBP and CS slides.

RESULTS

Correspondence rates between LBP and CS diagnoses in the above 3 categories were 90.3% in the BB and 97.0% in the TBNA samples. If suspicious cases were regarded as malignant, correspondence rates reached 98.4 and 100%, respectively. Histological diagnoses by LBP were mostly the same as those by CS and by biopsy or operation samples. Morphologically, cells and nuclei were shrunk in the LBP; however, the shrinking was not severe enough to influence cytological diagnoses. Blood background and air-drying, which were observed on many of the CS slides, were not detected on the LBP slides.

CONCLUSION

It is possible to use LBP for routine laboratory processing of BB and TBNA samples as a replacement for CS.