Analytical and Cytological Study of Effusions

Background: Cytological analyses of effusions or body fluids play an important role in the diagnosis of various lesions. Most importantly it gives a significant contribution in cancer research and staging of various tumors. Most commonly analysed fluids are pleural, ascitic, pericardial and occasionally peritoneal fluid/wash. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study for one year duration from August 2014 to August 2015 was conducted in the Department of Pathology, Sree Balaji Medical College and Hospital, Chennai, Tamil Nadu. All the body fluids which came for cytological analysis are included in the study. These fluids were analysed for physical properties like the volume of fluid received, colour and odour. Smears made from these fluids were stained with Papanicolaou stain and Hematoxylin and Eosin Stains and evaluated. Results: Cytological analysis was done on 60 cases. Non neoplastic lesions were the predominant diagnosis given in both pleural fluid analysis (93%) and ascitic fluid analysis (83%). Neoplastic lesions were reported only in 7% of cases in pleural fluid and in 17% of cases in ascitic fluid analysis. Tuberculous inflammatory lesions with caseation necrosis, lymphocytic infiltrate and occasional epitheloid granulomas was reported in 3 cases (10%). Conclusion:This study showed that meticulous evaluation of the body fluids for their cytological, properties will help the clinicians in clinching the diagnosis as well as staging of tumors.