Diagnosis of intraoperative squash cytology in brain tumors / Монголын Анагаах Ухаан

ABSTRACT

Background: The intraoperative smear cytology (squash preparation) is fairly accurate, simple, reliabletool for rapid intraoperative diagnosis of neurosurgical biopsies [1]. In the early 1930s, Dr Eisenhardtand Cushing introduced intraoperative cytological investigations for rapid examination of neurosurgicalspecimens and guidance of surgical treatment [2]. Besides rapid decision making during neurosurgicalprocedures, it is also to be ensured that minimum injury is caused to the normal brain structuressurrounding the intracranial neoplasm. It has become necessary for pathologists to train themselves inthe interpretation of cytomorphological features of various central nervous system lesion and used inmany neurosurgical units of all over the world [3]. Thus, to begin doing intraoperative squash cytology inour practice is the aim of this study.Aim: To study the diagnostic accuracy of squash cytology in the intraoperative diagnosis of centralnervous system tumorsMaterials and Methods: The material for this study was obtained from 30 cases of nervous systemneoplasms sent for intraoperative consultation from State Third Central Hospital, Shashtin to the thirdsection of National Center for Pathology between 7th of November 2013 to 28th of March 2014. Squashpreparation was performed on all cases and stained with hematoxylin and eosin. The diagnosis given onsquash cytology was then compared with final diagnosis given on paraffin-embedded sections.Results: Of total 30 cases of primary central nervous system tumors, neuroepithelial tumors are thelargest category of tumors (50%). The accuracy of squash cytology was 82.1%.Conclusion: This is the first study in our country where intra-operative squash cytology in brain tumorwas done and diagnostic accuracy was 82.1% as very good category. There were 4 cases had diagnosticdiscrepancy.