[Cytology of body cavity effusions].

The cytological examination of body cavity effusions is a fast and technically simple procedure. The specificity of the method to diagnose a malignoma is high, and the sensitivity is sufficient. Round cell sarcomas and carcinomas exfoliate well, but other sarcomas can rarely be diagnosed cytologically in the body effusion. Inflammation and bacterial or mycotic infection of the hydrops are evident. Cytological examinations of body effusions of other etiologies are not so specific.